Gabriel Martinelli is a doubt as Arsenal look to move back to the top of the Premier League on Saturday
Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal(Image credit: Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Arsenal have the chance to move to the top of the Premier League table on Saturday when they take on Brentford in the tea-time kick-off.
Mikel Arteta’s team will begin the weekend in third place, two points behind leaders Liverpool and one point off second-placed Manchester City. But with the top two facing off at Anfield on Sunday, the Gunners have the chance to put the pressure on and move to the top of the pile, temporarily, at least.
Arteta’s men beat Sheffield United 6-0 at Bramall Lane last time out, but saw Bukayo Saka replaced at half-time due to illness, while Gabriel Martinelli limped off after cutting his right foot in the second half.
Will Arsenal midfielder Gabriel Martinelli be fit enough to play against Brentford on Saturday evening?
Gabriel Martinelli was forced off against Sheffield United last time out (Image credit: Getty Images)
“Not much,” said the Arsenal boss when asked about the latest team news in Thursday’s press conference. “We’ve got some players back last Monday and then we had Martinelli and Bukayo with little issues. We’re pretty positive that hopefully, they can be part of that. But we’ll have to see."
Martinelli has scored once and assisted twice in Arsenal's past two matches, with the Gunners having found the back of the net a staggering 21 times in their past four games.
Takehiro Tomiyasu, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jurrien Timber are the Gunners’ other longer-term absentees, with Arteta not mentioning the defensive trio in his update.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
For more than a decade Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor, with stints at Mirror Football and LeedsLive among others. He is the author of four football history books that include tomes on Leeds United and the England national team.
