Arsenal suffer another big injury scare on international duty after Bukayo Saka update

Arsenal’s disdain for international breaks may be further intensified following reports of an injury scare involving Gabriel Martinelli from Brazil.

Martinelli, brimming with confidence after netting two goals and providing two assists in his last five games for Arsenal, left for international duty. He came on as a substitute in Brazil’s crucial 2-1 victory over Chile in Santiago on Friday before potential disaster loomed.

TNT Sports Brazil has revealed that Martinelli has been grappling with a calf issue ahead of their next World Cup qualifier against Peru in Brasilia. He was seen with the team doctor at the hotel on Sunday and underwent a precautionary scan post-training.

While the injury is not believed to be severe, Arsenal fans will be anxiously awaiting the scan results. This sense of apprehension is all too familiar for Gunners supporters, given recent incidents involving Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka during international duty.

Odegaard has been out of action since sustaining a serious injury on September 9 while representing Norway. The Arsenal skipper is striving to make a swift comeback, but it appeared another major setback occurred on Thursday when Saka limped off during England’s 2-1 loss to Greece.

Saka was absent from the squad for Sunday’s Nations League match against Finland in Helsinki due to a suspected hamstring issue. He returned to Arsenal for further assessment, with Lee Carsley later providing an update that all Gunners fans were eager to hear.

“Bukayo would have been close but it would have been unfair to take a risk with him,” Carsley stated before the Finland game. “He’s a positive person and I expect him to be fine.”

Mikel Arteta will be hoping for a similar prognosis for Martinelli, who has been finding his form after a slow start to the season.

Arsenal are set to face Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday, aiming to maintain their unbeaten run this season and hoping to have Martinelli available. Ex-Premier League forward Darren Bent believes he could be on the verge of hitting top form.

“That’s the biggest thing confidence in any football,” Bent commented on talkSPORT. “It doesn’t matter where you play, what level you play, if you haven’t got the confidence, then your performances are going to drop.

“He is working his way back, but you can see the confidence now slowly starting to come back. I believe by Christmas time, he will be absolutely flying. His confidence will be flying, the numbers will be there, and it will be the Martinelli of old.”