Mikel Arteta reveals Gabriel Martinelli fitness update ahead of north London derby

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has ruled Gabriel Martinelli out of their Champions League opener against PSV Eindhoven and admitted he could miss Sunday’s north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur.

Martinelli had to be hauled off during the Gunners’ 1-0 win at Everton on Sunday having picked up a muscle injury while scoring a goal that would be chalked off by VAR for offside.

The Brazilian was replaced in the first half by Leandro Trossard, who would go on to grab the winner at Goodison Park.

Arsenal will make their return to the Champions League after a six-season absence on Wednesday evening at home to PSV. They then welcome rivals Spurs to the Emirates Stadium this weekend, but Arteta has revealed that they may have to cope without Martinelli for both matches.

“He felt something in his hamstring and we need to do some further tests to assess if there is any big damage or not,” Arteta said at a press conference on Tuesday.

“But he will be out for tomorrow’s game, for sure. It is a possibility [he could miss the north London derby], we don’t know yet.

“As I said, we need some more tests and let’s see what happens.”

Martinelli’s hamstring injury is his first muscle problem since his debut 2019/20 season at Arsenal when he was sidelined for two weeks with a similar ailment.

He missed the very back-end of last season with an ankle injury, while he missed much of 2020 after damaging the cartilage in his knee.

Arsenal will also be without Jurrien Timber and Thomas Partey for the visits of PSV and Tottenham, though Mohamed Elneny is nearing a return to action.