Arsenal attacker Gabriel Martinelli has been ruled out for the rest of the season with an ankle injury, according to a report.
The Brazil international sustained the problem in a challenge from Brighton & Hove Albion's Moises Caicedo during the weekend's 3-0 defeat to the Seagulls at the Emirates Stadium.
Only a few minutes after kickoff, Martinelli clattered into his fellow winger Kaoru Mitoma, elbowing the Japan international in the face as he challenged for the ball.
Martinelli controversially escaped punishment for his challenge, but in an apparent act of retaliation, Caicedo scythed the Arsenal man down from behind not long after.
The 21-year-old initially carried on before having to limp off with 20 minutes gone - being replaced by ex-Brighton attacker Leandro Trossard - and Mikel Arteta did not have anything positive to share on his condition after the game.
Caicedo admitted on social media that he would not have made the challenge if he could go back in time, and The Athletic states that Martinelli's issue is serious enough to rule him out for Arsenal's final two games of the season with Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The former Ituano starlet can reportedly expect to be recuperating for several weeks, but he is expected to make a full recovery in time for the Gunners' pre-season period.
Martinelli's ankle injury brings a premature end to the attacker's most productive campaign in an Arsenal shirt yet, registering 15 goals and five assists in 36 Premier League games.
No Gunners player has scored more top-flight goals as Martinelli this season - Martin Odegaard is also on 15 - and only six players in the division have struck more.
The South American, who was called up to the Brazil squad for the 2022 World Cup, was rewarded for his continued progress with a new long-term Arsenal contract back in February, but his absence adds to Arteta's untimely end-of-season injury woes.
Arsenal have been working without Takehiro Tomiyasu and Mohamed Elneny for some time due to season-ending knee surgeries, while William Saliba has been out since March with a troublesome back injury.
Oleksandr Zinchenko also sustained a calf concern in Arsenal's win over Newcastle United earlier this month, and reports last week stated that both he and Saliba would not play again this season either.
In a surprise turn of events, Zinchenko was seen in team training with the Gunners prior to their defeat to Brighton, but the Ukrainian was ultimately unable to take part on Sunday afternoon.
Following Martinelli's withdrawal against Brighton, Arsenal succumbed to second-half goals from Julio Enciso, Deniz Undav and Pervis Estupinan, leaving them four points behind leaders Manchester City having played a game more.
Even if Arsenal get the better of Forest at the City Ground on Saturday, Man City will retain their title if they can defeat Chelsea a day later. body check tags ::
