Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli suffers injury during Carabao Cup victory
Mikel Arteta has revealed that Gabriel Martinelli “could not carry on” after the Brazilian winger picked up an injury concern during Arsenal’s Carabao Cup quarter-final triumph over Crystal Palace on Tuesday evening, reports BritPanorama.
The forward was substituted just before the hour mark, with Leandro Trossard stepping in during a tense encounter at Selhurst Park. The substitution adds to Arsenal’s injury woes, though the extent of Martinelli’s condition remains unclear as the North London club prepares for a busy festive schedule.
Arsenal progressed to the semi-finals thanks to a dramatic penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 draw. Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga emerged as the hero, denying Maxence Lacroix from the spot after all other penalties had been converted. The decisive moment came following a late strike from Marc Guehi that equalised the game, cancelling out Lacroix’s own goal earlier in the match.
Although Arteta expressed satisfaction with securing a place in the semi-finals, he acknowledged the challenges his team faced during the match. “We played against a team that is very hard to generate chances. We generated a lot and should have had more goals,” he noted, emphasizing the difficulty of closing out games effectively.
William Saliba, who scored during the penalty shoot-out, echoed the need for learning from past experiences, particularly from last season’s semi-final exit to Newcastle. “We have to learn the lesson from last season,” Saliba stated, highlighting the team’s desire to progress this time.
Arsenal will face Chelsea in the semi-finals, after the latter secured a 3-1 victory over Cardiff City last week. Arteta’s side will need to maintain focus and composure to avoid repeating past mistakes. The stakes are high, and as the festive fixtures approach, the pressure for sustained performance will only intensify.
In football, narratives can shift quickly. For Martinelli, it’s a time to hope for a swift recovery, while for Arsenal, it’s about channeling their resilience into the next stage of the competition, reminding everyone that the beauty of the game lies in its unpredictability.
