Arsenal have suffered a huge injury blow with Gabriel Martinelli ruled out for the remainder of the season.
The 19-year-old underwent surgery on his left knee after picking up an injury in a training session last Sunday.
In an update on current team news, Arsenal’s official club website wrote about Martinelli: “Left knee. Sustained injury during training on 21 June.
“Successful arthroscopic procedure undertaken to repair a lesion in the cartilage of the left knee.
“Will not be available for the current schedule of remaining 2019/20 matches.”
Martinelli has enjoyed a breakthrough season since joining Arsenal for £6million from Brazilian club Ituano last summer.
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He netted 10 goals in 26 appearances which led to the forward making the 100-man shortlist for the 2020 Golden Boy award earlier this month.
Arteta will now have to rely on Eddie Nketiah, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette in his side’s attempt to play European football next season.
The Gunners are currently ninth place in the table – six points behind Wolves, who occupy the final European spot.
Big things are expected from Martinelli and talkSPORT host Adrian Durham even suggested he is a ready-made replacement for Aubameyang.
The Arsenal captain, who has scored 61 goals in 100 appearances in north London, is out of contract next year and could leave the club this summer.
Durham said: “Don’t the Arsenal fans think, they’re always banging on about him: ‘Martinelli is the next big thing, he’s one of the big bright stars of the future?’
“But actually, he’s scoring goals this season.
“I hear what you’re saying that if you let Aubameyang go, it’s going to be even more expensive to replace him, I get it.
“But haven’t they got a ready-made replacement, not just in Martinelli, but in Lacazette as well?”
