Gabriel Martinelli’s Arsenal return came to a disappointing conclusion on Tuesday night.
Mikel Arteta’s side were dumped out of the League Cup quater-final by Manchester City, who recorded a 4-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium.
There was reason to be cheerful for Arsenal at half-time because not only were the Gunners level with Pep Guardiola’s side after Alexandre Lacazette cancelled out Gabriel’s opener, but Martinelli, who set up his side’s goal, was buzzing around the pitch.
This was the 19-year-old’s first start since March but Arteta was forced to take him off two minutes after the restart, following an earlier collision with Zach Steffen.
He told Arsenal’s official website: “[At half-time] he was pushing, he was saying he was completely fine, that he wanted to carry on.
“He had a scar that wasn’t open and he wanted to try, so we gave him the opportunity to try and when he was on the pitch he was uncomfortable so it was an easy decision to take him off.”
The last thing Arsenal need right now is another injury to Martinelli – or another injury in general.
It’s a pretty damning indictment of Artera right now that the North Londoners can’t afford under any circumstances to lose their 19-year-old prodigy.
Because that’s what Martinelli is, a prodigy. He isn’t the finished article, but his development might have to be accelerated this season because, well, Arsenal are 15th in the Premier League and desperately lacking a spark.
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