Mikel Arteta says injured winger Gabriel Martinelli is still being assessed ahead of Sunday’s North London derby.
The 22-year-old suffered a hamstring injury in the 1-0 win over Everton last weekend and missed Thursday’s trouncing of PSV Eindhoven.
Ahead of that game, Arteta said the medical team were still looking into the seriousness of the player’s muscular issue. It sounds as though that’s an ongoing situation.
Thomas Partey will miss the game as he continues his recovery from a muscular injury of his own.
“With Gabi we are still assessing him so let’s see if he can make the game or not,” said Arteta on Friday.
“Thomas for sure is out and the rest are hopefully available. We still have two training sessions but there were no big issues in midweek.”
Pressed on whether Martinelli is ruled out, Arteta replied, “No.”
Honestly, we suspect the manager is trying to put Sp*rs off the scent ahead of a crunch game. Even though the Brazilian is a key player for Arteta, with the strength in depth at our disposal there’s no need to rush a player back if he’s not fully fit. You certainly don’t want to mess around with hamstring issues knowing how badly they can be exacerbated.
In all likelihood, Leo Trossard, who has two goals and an assist this week will continue on the left flank with Reiss Nelson an option off the bench.
Keep the same team!
I think the only change would be Vieira for Havertz.
All set up for him to have a stormer and bag his first goal I reckon. I thought he was really good on Wednesday, a real presence in the midfield. I’d keep him in.
I’d do that except bring Vieira back for Kai, because a) Fabio deserves it b) NLD is always a crazy up and down game which he excels in and c) that’s a high pressure game and I’d want to protect Havertz from fan wrath if things dont go well, he’s still at a sensitive point.
That said I’d be totally fine with either.
I agree with Ebo. Start Vieira.
he’s not at a sensitive point, he’s been totally fine if not spectacular and his last game was very good. He’s also playing in a position that is something very new in this team.
There has been a ridiculous amount of hysteria around Kai, from the media and some fans. He’s our player now so let’s not give him “the fans wrath”, let’s give him love.
That’s exactly what I meant. I personally like him and think he’s done well but seems like the majority have yet to be convinced so I’d rather protect him from that hysteria and let him settle slowly
He cost 65 mil, he’s the highest earner on the team, he’s a veteran of the PL and a German international to boot. Enough of the molly coddling, he’s not fresh out the youth academy ffs. He needs to step up to the plate and produce to the level we spent the money on!
He’s not the highest earner on the team. People need to stop parroting misinformation around this.
Agree he needs to start producing though.
Not anymore since Odegaard’s contract but everywhere said he’s on £280k a week and that’s higher than everyone else?
same team same bench, minus Cedric and Hein as only 9 subs allowed; if Nelli is fit, he should go on the bench instead of Elneny.
The subs will pick themselves according to how the game goes.
Nelson, ESR and Vieira injected a good pace when they came on,
this team carries no passengers !!!
Feel for Martineli. Rotten luck. But Mr Owl is doing the Biz.
Whoo?
If you had to choose an animal to represent Trossard i think Owl fits quite well 😀
To me he looks more like Zorro than an owl 🙂
Zowlo
Where Trossard excells over Gabi is is ability to assist.
Last year with Liverpool away, gabi missed two final passes which could have been tap ins for Saka in the dying minutes. Gabi wouldn’t have made that assist with a left footed assist like Trossard did yesterday.
Guy’s truly an end product machine. And it’s not just the decision making in his final pass, but also the way he strikes the ball the second he has a sight of goal. Not only is he our coolest finisher, but I think he’s also right up there with the best in the whole league. Was looking at this video of Trossard’s goals for Brighton the other day, and near enough strike is a clean hit with the ball falling exactly where he intends (no deflections, scuffed shots, or anything like it). Just insanely good https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GED512d4AVQ&ab_channel=OfficialBrighton%26HoveAlbionFC
Gabi is like a bazooka on speed, whereas Trosser is more of an infra-red sensing sniper rifle. Calm, stealthy, almost unnoticed… and then suddenly you’re 0-1 down and wondering wtf happened.
It’s amazing how one signing can change the complexion of a team. A Partey injury was a major issue last season; but this season, we can still have our Rice even if there is no Partey. Trossard too – whom we didn’t have the luxury of calling upon at the beginning of last season – is there too to ensure Martinelli can heal properly. Nice stuff.
Tbh, I think Trossard should be starting ahead of Martinelli
I’ll leave that headache to the manager. Mine is to support the team that file out for every game… from Ramsdale/ Raya to Jesus/Nketiah.
Nope – Gabi to start with Trosser inside him in the Granit/Kai/ Fabio/ESR slot
The only worry I have is Saka’s replacement. Playing Reiss there feels abit off as we’d lack a goal threat cutting in from the right. Wonder if we’re gonna go back in for Neto in January, he looks to have gone another level this season which may drive his fee wayyy up.
Isn’t it great that – with the possibility of both Thomas and Martinelli missing, we’re not in the usual flat spin?!
Depth is growing and it feels good.
Trosser looked imperious vs PSV so should start. I get the Fabio for Kai school of thought but the latter looked as good as he’s been vs PSV and I have this sneaky-Arse feeling that Sunday is the day he writes himself into North London history with not one, but TWO stonkers!
Chance would be a fine thing, eh?
Definitely need to make sure Martinelli is close to 100% before he plays again, no need risking him to longer term injury this early in the season with so many big games ahead especially when we have options in Trossard, ESR, Nelson, etc..