Who that will replace Gabriel Martinelli in Arsenal line-up for Bournemouth and Shakhtar Donetsk

Arsenal have been handed another injury concern during the international break after Gabriel Martinelli ‘complained of pain in his right calf’ while away with Brazil.

The Gunners have endured a miserable couple of days following Bukayo Saka’s withdrawal from the England squad with a muscle problem. He could join Martin Odegaard, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Kieran Tierney, Neto, Ben White and Jurrien Timber on the treatment table, while Kai Havertz and Thomas Partey stayed in north London over the international period due to minor concerns.

It’s hoped that Saka, Havertz, Partey, White and Timber could be available for the trip to Bournemouth on Saturday, but there is an uncertainty over Martinelli’s fitness. The 23-year-old was recalled to the Brazil squad for two 2026 World Cup qualifiers and earned his 14th senior cap in their 2-1 win over Chile on Friday. But the Gunners winger has since felt some discomfort in his calf which forced him to have a scan.

A statement from Brazil FA (CBF) read: “Player Gabriel Martinelli complained of pain in his right calf and underwent an MRI on Sunday night which showed a small area of muscle edema in the area.”

Martinelli will now stay in Brazil to undergo further physiotherapy and treatment on the injury. There is optimism that the problem won’t keep him out for a considerable amount of time, but doubts remain over whether Martinelli will be fit to face Bournemouth, and even Shahktar Donetsk in the Champions League.

With this in mind, who could replace the in-form Martinelli, who has two goals and two assists in his last three Premier League appearances, on the left-hand side? Leandro Trossard is the like-for-like replacement and stands an excellent chance of returning to the starting XI for the trip to the Vitality Stadium.

Mikel Arteta experimented with Raheem Sterling on the left for the home game against Southampton before the international break, but it’s safe to say that didn’t work. With the Gunners searching for an elusive winning goal, it felt as though the game switched when Martinelli and Trossard came on with half an hour to go.

Sterling could keep his spot in the side, but Trossard is pushing for a return, especially after scoring and grabbing an assist for Belgium in their 2-2 draw against Italy on Friday. Other alternatives include pushing Gabriel Jesus out to the left with Kai Havertz starting on his own down the middle.