Arsenal are likely to be without Gabriel Martinelli for the rest of the Premier League season. It is the latest setback for Mikel Arteta, who lost Bernd Leno to a knee injury in Saturday's Premier League defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion.
Arsenal announced that Martinelli, who has been one of the few bright spots in a dismal season for the club, would undergo 'assessments and tests' after damaging his left knee in training on Sunday.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of Thursday's trip to Southampton, Arteta revealed how the teenage forward suffered the injury.
"In training in the last action he got hit by another player and he’s damaged his knee," the Arsenal head coach said.
"The doctor is assessing the extent of the injury, but it’s not looking good at all.
Arsenal ace Gabriel Martinelli suffered a knee injury in training (Image: GETTY)
Gabriel Martinelli could miss the rest of the season (Image: GETTY)
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"We don’t know (how long he’s going to be out for), but it’s looking like months."
The problems are mounting for Arteta just two games into the Premier League restart having suffered back-to-back defeats against Manchester City and Brighton.
The 3-0 loss at the Etihad Stadium saw Granit Xhaka and Pablo Mari forced off in the first half, while Leno damaged his knee after an aerial collision with Seagulls striker Neal Maupay.
He has described the injuries as "traumatic" but admits the team will just have to soldier on.
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"Well, if two players (collide) with each other or what happened with Pablo on his own, and a lot we’ve had in recent months, they’re not muscular injuries," he said.
"They are more traumatic injuries, but again, we’ve been really unlucky with that and we’re going to have to deal with it."
There was a bit of positive news regarding Leno, who will be sidelined for six weeks after initial fears he could be out for a year.
The German goalkeeper told fans on Twitter: "Thank you for your support and getting well wishes. I’m going to work hard to come back on the pitch as soon as possible."
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