The festive cheer at the Emirates was dampened on Tuesday night, December 23, 2025, as Mikel Arteta confirmed that star winger Gabriel Martinelli was forced off with an injury during Arsenal’s dramatic Carabao Cup quarter-final win over Crystal Palace.
While the Gunners secured their spot in the semi-finals via an 8–7 penalty shootout, the sight of the Brazilian limping off in the 59th minute has left fans sweating over his availability for the critical Christmas period.
The Incident: A Clash of Knees
The injury occurred late in the first half following a heavy "clash of knees" with Palace defender Jaydee Canvot. Although Martinelli attempted to play through the discomfort and started the second half, it quickly became apparent he was not at 100%.
The Substitution (59'): After a brief conversation with the medical staff on the pitch, Martinelli was replaced by Leandro Trossard.
Arteta’s Verdict: Speaking to Sky Sports and in his post-match press conference, the Arsenal boss didn't hide his concern:
"Martinelli is more of a knock, but he wasn’t comfortable to carry on. He tried in the second half, but he was struggling. We had to make the sub. We’ll have to assess him in the next 24 to 48 hours."
An Escalating Injury Crisis
Martinelli’s "knock" adds to what is becoming a nightmare selection headache for Arteta as Arsenal aim to maintain their two-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
Piero Hincapie: The summer signing was a surprise absentee from the matchday squad. Arteta confirmed Hincapie picked up a shoulder injury during the weekend win over Everton.
The Treatment Room: The duo joins a long list of key absentees including Gabriel Magalhães, Ben White, Kai Havertz, and long-term casualty Gabriel Jesus (who only just made his first start in nearly a year during the Palace match).
Kepa the Hero Amid the Gloom
Despite the injury news, the night ended in celebration thanks to Kepa Arrizabalaga.
After a Marc Guéhi equalizer in the 95th minute forced the game into a shootout, the Spanish keeper (who has become Arsenal's "Cup Specialist") saved the decisive penalty from Maxence Lacroix to send the Gunners through.
Arsenal will now face Chelsea in a massive two-legged London derby semi-final in January.
Arsenal’s "Red Zone" Schedule
With games coming every three days, the medical team faces a race against time to get Martinelli ready for the following fixtures:
December 27: vs. Brighton (Home)
January 1: vs. Liverpool (Away) - Crucial Title Clash
January 5: FA Cup Third Round
The Verdict: While Arteta described it as a "knock" rather than a tear, the timing is brutal. If Martinelli misses the Liverpool game on New Year's Day, Arsenal's attacking depth will be stretched to its absolute limit.