Martinelli to miss Arsenal vs Porto clash through injury

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that they will be without Gabriel Martinelli for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 match against FC Porto.

Martinelli injured his foot in the Premier League’s 6-0 triumph over Sheffield United.

The Brazillan missed Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Brentford and was seen strolling through the mixed zone afterward wearing a protective boot and on crutches.

Martinelli is scheduled to miss the game against Porto on Tuesday night.

“Percentage you want [of him to play]? There are options. Sorry to disappoint you,” Arteta told reporters.

After losing the first leg two weeks ago, Arsenal are looking to come back from a one-goal deficit.

Tuesday’s clash will be the first Champions League knockout game hosted at the Emirates Stadium since 2017 when the Gunners lost 5-1 to Bayern Munich home and away, though Arteta and Arsenal fans will be hoping for a much better outcome this time round.

A 2-1 win over Brentford sends the Gunners into the clash in high spirits, with the victory an eighth consecutive win in the Premier League.

Flashback to the first leg: Porto vs Arsenal
Galeno curled in a sublime stoppage-time strike as FC Porto defeated Arsenal 1-0 in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie in Portugal on Wednesday.

Appearing in a first knockout match in Europe’s premier club competition for seven years, Arsenal struggled to break down an organised Porto defence before Galeno’s last-gasp stroke of brilliance.

Arteta stuck with the same starting line-up for the third game in succession following his team’s 5-0 demolition of Burnley at the weekend.

Porto defender Pepe, who turns 41 next week and is the oldest outfield player in Champions League history, made his 119th appearance in the competition.

By comparison, Arsenal’s starters had combined for a total of 104 before kick-off at the Estadio do Dragao.

While short on Champions League experience, Arteta has said his squad have the belief they can mix it with Europe’s best.

The Gunners have started the new year with five successive wins in the Premier League, scoring 21 goals in those games, and are firmly in the race for a first title since 2004.

As well as reigning supreme in England for the first time in 20 years, the north Londoners are convinced they can also conquer Europe, spurred on further by the prospect of a Wembley final.

Arsenal have never won the Champions League — losing their only final appearance against Barcelona in 2006.