Arsenal suffered a 2-0 defeat in both legs of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Newcastle United, with the second leg potentially being more harmful than the first, not just because it dashed their hopes of reaching the Wembley final.
During the match, Arsenal lost their forward Gabriel Martinelli to an apparent hamstring injury just 36 minutes into the game.
Following a penalty shootout loss to Manchester United in the FA Cup Third Round, Arsenal have a free weekend before they travel to face Leicester City in the Premier League next Saturday. Manager Mikel Arteta has since given an update on Martinelli’s condition after the EFL Cup loss.
“He felt something, I think it was his hamstring, and he wasn’t comfortable to continue,” Arteta told the media after the game at St James’ Park.
“So we will have to have an MRI scan [on Thursday] to see the extent of the injury.”
Arteta is keeping his hopes up for a speedy recovery for the Brazilian striker. Arsenal’s attacking lineup is thin, especially after losing Martinelli’s fellow countryman, Gabriel Jesus, to a severe knee injury.
Ian Wright hits out at pundits targeting Myles Lewis-Skelly
Ian Wright has come out strongly in defense of Myles Lewis-Skelly, criticizing the media’s harsh scrutiny of the young Arsenal midfielder following his celebration in their 5-1 thrashing of Manchester City.
Rather than focusing on his impressive performance in the match, the conversation has centered on Lewis-Skelly’s choice to mock Erling Haaland’s meditation celebration, a direct retort to Haaland’s earlier dismissive remarks about him during the season.
“We need to protect Myles Lewis-Skelly at all costs,” Wright declared on social media. “British media have found their new target and are already taking aim. Instead of hailing up this 18-year-old’s impressive breakout season so far, his celebration in response to Haaland has become a point of contention.”
The reaction to Lewis-Skelly’s celebration has been intense and widespread. Jamie Carragher expressed his disapproval, stating, “I didn’t like this because he’s a young player mimicking Haaland, taking the mick.” Gary Neville took it a step further, calling it “disrespectful,” arguing that a player as young as Lewis-Skelly shouldn’t indulge in such behavior.
However, for Ian Wright, the issue transcends a simple goal celebration, highlighting a broader problem within English football. “The reaction this has caused shows this runs deeper than light-hearted cheekiness,” he argued. “In a recent talkSPORT show, Jason Cundy suggested Myles might end up with a broken leg like Haaland’s father. What’s viewed as playful for some is seen as arrogance for others.”
Lewis-Skelly’s celebration was in direct response to Haaland’s actions during an earlier 2-2 draw, where the Manchester City forward had thrown a ball at Gabriel’s head, told Mikel Arteta to “stay humble,” and taunted Lewis-Skelly with, “Who the f* are you?”
This incident now frames the intense media scrutiny Lewis-Skelly is currently facing.
“The talk around Myles’ name is entering dangerous territory,” Wright warned. “The sight of a young, confident, charismatic Black man thriving on the biggest stage does not fit the mould of what they envision.”
This scenario has repeated itself in the past. Ian Wright brought up how players like Paul Pogba, Jude Bellingham, and Marcus Rashford have been subjected to similar media attacks. Bellingham faced significant backlash from the press during Euro 2024, Rashford has had his character put under constant scrutiny in recent times, and Pogba’s time in England was marked by as much off-field criticism as it was by his on-field talent.
“Many people in England have an issue with confident Black men in all spaces. The second you become bigger than you initially were, you become threatening and must be minimised,” Wright stated. “It is an active dimming of their light. But real stars will always shine bright in the midst of darkness. The undertones in their messages will not outweigh the achievements. MLS is just getting started. And those who support him must remain as loud as his detractors. The story of our future greats must be told correctly by those who genuinely care for them.”
