Report – Arsenal star set for over a month out with injury in another blow for Arteta | OneFootball

Gabriel Martinelli is set to miss more than a month with the hamstring injury he sustained against Newcastle, according to reports.

The Athletic’s David Ornstein reports that Martinelli will miss games against Leicester City, West Ham, Nottingham Forest, and possibly Man Utd, Chelsea, and the Champions League round of 16 tie.

It comes as a further blow for Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal squad who are already without forwards Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus.

Saka is not expected back until March with a hamstring injury, while Jesus is out for the rest of the season with an ACL injury.

Arsenal were keen on signing a forward in January but failed to get a deal over the line despite their efforts.

They attempted to sign Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins but saw a bid rejected for the 29-year-old.

And the Gunners opted against signing Mathys Tel, who joined north London rivals Tottenham.

On not signing a forward, Arteta admitted his disappointment but stressed that the club would only bring in the right player.

He said: “We had a clear intention. We haven’t achieved it. So we are disappointed. But we are aware that we only want to bring certain types of players, so we have to be disciplined.

“We couldn’t do it for certain reasons and we have to expect that, it was a combination of things.

Ornstein adds that Martinelli is expected to be back for the final two months of the season at least, but it leaves Arsenal very light in the attacking third in the meantime with Ethan Nwaneri, Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard and Raheem Sterling the only fit first-team attackers.

Arsenal are currently in Dubai following their Carabao Cup exit to Newcastle United, due to them being without a game this weekend having been knocked out of the FA Cup.