Fabrizio Romano says Arsenal forward's return from injury "getting closer"

Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes were dealt a major blow over the weekend as Saturday’s shock 1-0 defeat against West Ham United was followed up by Liverpool winning 2-0 at Manchester City on Sunday afternoon.

Arne Slot’s side are now 11 points clear of the Gunners but have played a game more. Both sides are in action during midweek with Mikel Arteta’s men heading to the City Ground to take on Nottingham Forest while Liverpool host Newcastle United. Both of those sides played each other on Sunday, as the Magpies won 4-3 at St James’ Park.

The Gunners are currently without Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus for the remainder of the season while Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka are also sidelined but the pair are expected back before the end of the campaign. Takehiro Tomiyasu is also out until the end of 2025.

Arteta not using injuries as an excuse

After the game against West Ham, Arteta was asked if injuries were having an impact on his team. However, he said: “I refuse that completely because I am talking about the standards of the players and the team that we played today, me included 100%, were nowhere near the levels that we have to hit to have the opportunity to win a Premier League game today. We were very consistent, yes, but football is about what you do today and today, it was nowhere near.”

He added: “We have to look in the mirror at ourselves and what we can do better, the will and desire and the way we run and the way we want it, zero questions about that. But at this level it’s not enough, you have to deliver and it has to be a lot of quality to break a really good team down to win many more duels than we have done and put actions that can end up in really threatening moments for the positions to win the game, and we haven’t done it.”

Ethan Nwaneri was withdrawn against West Ham but Arteta said: “It was just fatigue, I think.”

Romano gives Arsenal injury update

In his latest GiveMeSport newsletter, Fabrizio Romano was taking questions from supporters and provided an Arsenal injury update in one of his answers. Asked if the Gunners might look to sign a free agent amid their injury woes, the Italian journalist said that the club’s position remained the same but added: “I'm told it's still quiet situation and Martinelli's return is also getting closer now.”

Romano’s update was shared via email to subscribers, with a link to sign up to the newsletter HERE. Martinelli is unlikely to be back this week for Arsenal as they face a trip to Nottingham Forest and then journey to Old Trafford this weekend to take on Manchester United. Myles Lewis-Skelly will miss the trip to Forest after he was sent off against West Ham.

Providing an update on Saka and Martinelli last week, Arteta said: “Probably Gabi Martinelli is a bit ahead of Bukayo, as well for the extent of that injury. But then we will have to see the next steps, the previous weeks before that, how the boys are feeling and what we are prepared to do.”