Arsenal have been knocked out of the FA Cup by Newcastle United, and to make matters worse, Gabriel Martinelli suffered an injury on Wednesday night.
The forward was forced off in the 37th minute with what appeared to be a muscle injury, and after the match, Mikel Arteta confirmed that the Brazilian had sustained a hamstring issue.
Speaking after the 2-0 defeat, Arteta said: “He felt something, I think it was his hamstring, and he wasn’t comfortable to continue, so we have to have an MRI scan tomorrow to see the extent of the injury.”
How will Arsenal cope with this fresh injury blow?
Arsenal are currently in a rather difficult situation, as Bukayo Saka is already sidelined with a hamstring issue, while Gabriel Jesus is out for the rest of the season with an ACL injury.
And now, this fresh setback for Martinelli leaves Arteta with just four fully fit attackers.
Among the fit ones, Ethan Nwaneri is only 17 years old, Raheem Sterling has started just three Premier League games, and Leandro Trossard has scored only once in 2025.
Kai Havertz has found the net three times in his last six appearances, but the German has struggled to produce consistent performances against top opposition. Last season’s spark has completely faded off and more often than not, Havertz is looking like a frustrated figure up top.
Arsenal attempted to sign a new centre-forward during the January transfer window but ultimately failed to bring anyone in. The club’s management had placed their faith in Arteta’s ability to make magic with the current squad, but Martinelli’s injury could prove to be a major turning point.
With the transfer window now closed, Arteta will have to make do with his existing squad, meaning Ethan Nwaneri is likely to get more consistent starts on the right-hand side. The youngster has shown promise in recent appearances, and Arteta will be hoping he can step up.
Kai Havertz will also need to find the back of the net regularly, as Arsenal’s lack of goals has been a major concern. Against Newcastle, they managed just three shots on target and missed two big chances and these numbers must improve if they wish to win anything this season.
Update on the Gabriel Martinelli injury scenario:
The full extent of Martinelli’s injury will only be determined after his MRI scan, but Isaan Khan from the Daily Mail reports that the Brazilian international will travel to Dubai with the rest of the squad.
This is a positive sign, but even if Martinelli is out for just two to three weeks, Arsenal could face massive selection issues.
Arsenal have the weekend off because they are not in the FA Cup, and Martinelli may be able to use this extended break to recover and return to full fitness before they face Manchester United and Chelsea consecutively in March.
