‘Tough week’: Mikel Arteta admits ‘phenomenal’ Arsenal player has been struggling

Add as preferred source on Google

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted that Gunners star Gabriel Martinelli has had a “tough week”.

The 21-year-old “wasn’t feeling great” at the start of the week, Arteta told the Arsenal website.

Martinelli had been struggling this week with illness, while nursing a calf knock picked up in the win over Leeds.

However, the Brazilian felt better by the time the PSV Eindhoven game came round.

Martinelli got 14 minutes off the bench in Thursday night’s Europa League win at the Emirates Stadium.

Ahead of Sunday’s Premier League meeting with Southampton, Arteta provided an update on the “phenomenal” player.

“Yeah, he came on yesterday (against PSV),” said the Arsenal boss.

“He had a tough week, he wasn’t feeling great during the week.

“But towards the day before the game, he was already feeling better and that’s why we decided to play him a little bit.”

While Arteta didn’t openly say Martinelli would be available against Saints, his comments are certainly positive.

The suggestion is that the forward has shaken off the illness and knock, and should – in theory – be available again.

Arsenal are firing on all cylinders at present and sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League table.

Likewise, they’re top of Europa League Group A, having sealed knockout stage qualification with two games to go.

Martinelli has played a big part in Arsenal’s successes so far this season, so it’s good to hear he’s been feeling better.

Other positive Arsenal fitness updates

Arteta also provided positive updates on Bukayo Saka and Oleksandr Zinchenko.

On Saka, he said: “I think he’s fine. I think he was struggling a bit at the end [against PSV], but hopefully he will be fine for Sunday.”

And on Zinchenko, Arteta said: “I think he’s close [to returning]. He’s getting better and better and he’s progressing really well.

“He had a setback on the injury that he had at the start of the season, which is a shame, but knowing Alex, he will be back very soon.