Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Gabriel Martinelli will miss Arsenal’s Champions League group stage opener against PSV tomorrow.
The 22-year-old Brazilian was substituted after 24 minutes against Everton on Sunday after sustaining an injury, just after he’d seen a goal had ruled out for offside.
The prospect of Martinelli playing in Sunday’s north London derby this weekend, though, has not yet been ruled out.
“He felt something in his hamstring and we need to do some further tests to see if there’s some big damage or not but he will be out for tomorrow’s game that’s for sure,” said Arteta.
“It’s a possibility we don’t know yet. As I said we need some more tests and then see what happens.”
Arteta was less inclined to answer questions on his two goalkeepers David Raya and Aaron Ramsdale.
The Arsenal manager sparked debate after saying that he regretted not substituting his goalkeeper before and that rotating two goalkeepers is the same as outfielders but he does not resent the fascination over the topic.
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“No, because I respect opinions as well and I understand the questions and I understand historically what happens and for me there is nothing different,” Arteta said. “We’ve been doing it for many years, when Bernd (Leno) was here we brought Aaron (Ramsdale) and I don’t see any difference.
“But it’s my job, I have to answer the questions in the best possible way, in the most honest way. As a manager I have to do what I feel and what I feel is that always is the best for the team and for the club, not for Mikel that’s for sure.”
Arsenal are back in the Champions League for the first time since 2017-18 and will face PSV, Sevilla and Lens in Group B.
Having missed out on Europa League glory, Arteta is determined to make an impact on a tournament he has had to watch from the outside.
“Every time that I watched it and we weren’t there I felt it,” the Spaniard added. “I think you put pressure on yourself you know?
“This club has to win the Champions League and when I have the job that I have, the responsibility to try and bring the club to the biggest stages, the biggest tournament and then be fighting for them.
“It was a process, but we are here and now we have to make the most of it.”
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(Photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images)
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