Gabriel Martinelli was forced off with a muscular issue following his disallowed goal for Arsenal on Sunday, according to Mikel Arteta.

Gabriel Martinelli’s mood went from elation to despair in a matter of moments as Arsenal took on Everton at Goodison Park over the weekend.

The winger initially believed he’d given Arsenal the lead, racing down the left-hand side before curling a finish beyond Jordan Pickford and into the far corner.

But the play was pulled back by VAR for an apparent offside involving Eddie Nketiah, earlier in the move.

Moments later, things got worse for Martinelli as he realised he had to come off with an injury.

Speaking about the injury after the game, Mikel Arteta explained it was a muscular issue Martinelli sustained in the process of scoring the disallowed goal.

“He felt it after the action for the run on the goal,” Arteta said. “Normally he’s not one of the players to have muscular issues, but he had to come off, so let’s see.”

The comments are worrying for Arsenal fans ahead of a big week of football, with the Gunners playing their first match back in the Champions League against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday, before playing the north London derby at the Emirates on Sunday.

The good news is that Leandro Trossard is available and in form, coming on to score the winner against Everton after a fantastic goal for Belgium over the international break.

Arsenal have depth in Martinelli’s position, with Reiss Nelson also available to call upon if necessary.

Even so, Martinelli was one of Arteta’s star players last campaign, and the hope will be that his muscular problem is nothing more than a scare.