Gabriel Martinelli picked up a knee injury in training that required surgery, so when do Arsenal expect the Brazilian to return to training and be available for selection?

On 28 November, Arsenal posted this video of Martinelli in training:

The latest Arsenal update stated, “Gabi is now integrating into squad sessions.”

With Pablo Mari completing 45 minutes with the u23s on Friday we can perhaps gauge what will happen with Martinelli. Mari has been out for four days longer than the forward.

The club have removed the bit that said he was expected back at the end of the year.

Gabriel Martinelli last played on 2 March 2020 as Arsenal beat Portsmouth 2-0 at Fratton Park to make the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

The 19-year-old started that game and played the full 90 minutes and, in total, he started 15 games in his first season with Arsenal, playing the full 90 12 times.

After the game against Pompey, Martinelli picked up a cartilage problem in his left knee, during training, that required arthroscopic surgery to repair the lesion.

The procedure took place in the last week of June, nearly four months after his injury, indicating the club had hoped to avoid medical intervention.

Gabriel was still in a knee brace at the end of July and was not expected to return to full training until the end of 2020, however he has now joined the main group. He will need time to regain full match fitness meaning it’s unlikely we will see him play for Arsenal before 2021.

Martinelli was receiving daily ‘specialist attention and support’ from Arsenal’s medical team at London Colney and spent some time back home in Brazil during August.

Speaking on TV while home in Brazil, Martinelli said, “On 21st June I got hurt in training and I had surgery and for a month I couldn’t even put my foot on the floor- but for the last week I have been able to. I’ve started to walk again, doing the basics and re-learning how to walk.”

Martinelli, if you missed it, has also launched his official Twitter account.

Gabriel Martinelli interview

“I’m feeling very well, I’m regaining confidence and I can feel my knee is better,” Martinelli told Arsenal.com in October. “After an injury like this you are kind of scared to force the knee again but the past couple of weeks it has been fine and soon I can start training with the ball.

“I think we have an excellent squad and along with Mikel’s forward thinking and winning mentality we can carry on doing well.

“We are playing well and training well, everyone wants to win and we are all giving everything. I believe this season is very promising. We won trophies last season and I believe we can win this season again and also qualify for the Champions League.”

Gabriel Martinelli 19/20 stats

Martinelli arrived in the summer of 2019 and signed a new deal with the club at the start of July, 2020.

His new Arsenal deal reportedly takes him to 2024, with a club option to extend to 2025.

No-one predicted how quickly he would become a first-team regular, so his previous wages reflected that. Reports in early 2020 suggested he was ‘only’ earning £10,000-a-week.

It is believed Martinelli now earns £30kpw with his new Arsenal deal.

Here’s why:

Get all the latest Gabriel Martinelli news and updates right here

Gabriel Martinelli injury history

He’s still only young so Gabriel Martinelli’s injury history isn’t too lenghty. Let’s hope it stays that way.

• 19/20 23 Dec 2019 – 3 Jan 2020: Hamstring injury, 3 games missed (11 days)
• 19/20 20 Feb 2020 – 5 Feb 2020: Knock, 1 game missed (5 days)
• 19/20-20/21 21 June 2020 – present: Knee, 38 games missed so far (including Leeds United on 22/11/20)