Gabriel Martinelli sidelined for over a month with hamstring injury

In England, Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli sustained a hamstring injury during a Carabao Cup semi-final match against Newcastle United. The incident occurred just before halftime, leading to his substitution and leaving the team already short-handed. Alongside Martinelli, Arsenal is also without key players such as Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus, exacerbating the team’s attacking struggles as they seek to close the gap in the Premier League standings. The club’s inability to strengthen their squad during the January transfer window adds to the mounting frustration, especially as Martinelli is expected to miss crucial fixtures in the coming weeks. The impact of Martinelli's injury is significant, as he joins a list of injured players, creating a challenging situation for head coach Mikel Arteta. With Arsenal’s attacking depth tested, Arteta has expressed his disappointment in the club’s failure to sign additional forwards during the transfer window. The lack of reinforcements is a setback, especially with the team facing important matches against Leicester City, West Ham, and Manchester United in the near future. Arteta acknowledged the need for flexibility in the front line, stating the necessity of adjusting tactics depending on the players available. With stars sidelined, Arsenal has only a handful of fit attacking options, which increases the pressure on those still capable of playing. The situation emphasizes the importance of squad depth and the successful integration of versatile players into various positions on the pitch. In the wake of these injuries, Arsenal prepares for several crucial fixtures that will test the team's resilience and depth in the coming weeks. They need to secure points in the Premier League while also gearing up for the Champions League round of 16 matches. Martinelli's absence could alter Arsenal's prospects as they navigate this demanding schedule.