Arsenal handed further injury blow as star 'undergoes MRI' on international duty

Mikel Arteta could be without Gabriel Martinelli in this weekend’s Premier League return after Sky Sports reported the Brazilian underwent an MRI scan while on international duty.

The Gunners’ forward is said to have undertaken the precautionary procedure after complaining of pain in his right calf while on international duty and is now set to continue receiving treatment under the care of his national team’s medical department.

23-year-old Martinelli returned to the Brazil squad after missing out on September’s selection, with his form for the Gunners showing signs of a resurgence following a slow start to the season.

He has contributed four goals in his last three Premier League appearances and was due to form part of Brazil’s squad that would take on Peru in the World Cup qualifiers, having come on as a substitute during his side’s 2-1 win over Chile on Friday.

Now, however, not only is the winger not set to add to his international caps, but his presence in Arsenal’s upcoming Premier League and European fixtures remain in doubt.

Arsenal travel to Bournemouth this weekend as the Premier League returns before taking on Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Champions League and facing Liverpool on Sunday 27 October.

For their upcoming trip to the south coast, Arteta is already set to be without club captain Martin Odegaard as he continues to recover from an ankle injury, as well as Ben White, Jurrien Timber and Oleksandr Zinchenko.

England winger Bukayo Saka is also being assessed after he was forced off during the Three Lions’ 2-1 defeat to Greece last week.

The 23-year-old subsequently withdrew from the international squad, missing the side’s 3-1 win over Finland last night (Sunday 13 October) but interim England manager Lee Carsley did admit that he expects the winger ‘to be fine’ for the Gunners’ Premier League return this weekend.

Germany’s Kai Havertz and Ghana’s Thomas Partey are also expected to be fit for the trip to Vitality Stadium after withdrawing from international duty with a knee injury and illness respectively.