Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Emiliano Martinez ready to fill in for injured Bernd Leno

sportsmole.co.uk, 21 June 2020, 13:03

Emiliano Martinez is likely to finish the season as Arsenal 's first-choice goalkeeper but insists he is gutted by the injury suffered by team-mate Bernd Leno.

The Gunners lost 2-1 at Brighton on Saturday to a last-gasp Neal Maupay goal, with the striker involved in an earlier incident which saw Leno taken off on a stretcher.

The Germany international seemed to suffer a knee injury and left the Amex Stadium wearing a brace and using crutches.

The PA news agency understands Leno will be fully assessed in the coming days before the extent of the injury will be known.

Leno's injury adds to a growing list of fitness concerns for head coach Mikel Arteta, who has seen his side lose both games since the Premier League restart, with both Pablo Mari and Granit Xhaka forced off in Wednesday's defeat at Manchester City.

Fellow goalkeepers, including David De Gea of Manchester United and international colleague Kevin Trapp, sent messages of support to Leno on social media, while Martinez was also sad to see his team-mate hurt.

"In the goalkeepers' union, you don't want the other goalies to get injured because it can happen to anyone," he told arsenal.com

"We train every day together, we support each other, we're really close, we even have a WhatsApp group for just me, Bernd and Matt (Macey) - it is devastating to be honest.

"I wish him a speedy recovery and if he needs the rest of the season, me and Matt will try to do a good job in the Premier League and try to cover him as much possible."

Martinez has played the role of back-up goalkeeper this season following the retirement of Petr Cech last summer.

He has appeared in the Europa League and Carabao Cup but made a long-awaited return to the Premier League - even if the day did not go how he planned as Maupay's goal completed the comeback for the Seagulls after Lewis Dunk 's scrambled equaliser had cancelled out Nicolas Pepe's strike.

"The last time I played in the Premier League was three years ago," added Martinez.

"But I wasn't thinking about it when I just came on. I made a save straight afterwards but I am so disappointed for the result, I thought we deserved to be 2-0 or 3-0 up. But you just take it and learn from it."

The victory for Brighton was their first of the calendar year as Graham Potter's side battle against the drop.

Captain Dunk started the comeback with a close-range leveller and the England international felt the forced postponement of the season due to the coronavirus pandemic has given Brighton a chance to re-evaluate.

"It's a huge win for us," he told the club's official website.

"Our first this year, so they have been hard to come by but we worked hard during the last few weeks.

"To come from behind to get the three points was a great feeling for everyone. We pressed the reset button today and it's worked."

Top News

21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City officially announce that manager Pep Guardiola has signed a two-year contract extension. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Girona will be bidding to make it three straight wins in La Liga for the first time this season when they welcome Espanyol to Estadi Montilivi on Saturday evening. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk An in-form Las Palmas will be aiming to make it five wins from their last six matches in all competitions when they continue their La Liga campaign at home to Mallorca on Saturday night. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Following four straight defeats leading into the international break, Aston Villa will return to action on Saturday, when Crystal Palace pay a visit to Villa Park. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Saudi Pro League action will return to the Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium this weekend when Al Khaleej play host to the defending champions Al-Hilal on Saturday evening. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Atletico Madrid will be aiming to make it five straight wins in all competitions when they continue their La Liga campaign against Alaves at Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday afternoon. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Robert Lewandowski is a mesmerising goal scorer, but it turns out that's not his only talent. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Crystal Palace may be without two of their key creators when they kick off on Saturday afternoon, as an ailing Premier League campaign resumes away to Aston Villa. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell has reportedly caught the eye of Serie A clubs Juventus and Napoli. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid are reportedly interested in Manchester United midfielder Casemiro, with Los Blancos considering making an attempt to bring the Brazilian back to Bernabeu in January. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Pep Guardiola deciding to extend his stay at Manchester City could be good news for them in more than one sense. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo admitted there will be one key challenge to his son, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr, becoming a professional footballer. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Caoimhin Kelleher has the opportunity to become Chelsea's starting goalkeeper - he's too good to be Liverpool's back-up. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers could be without up to seven players for Saturday's Premier League clash with Fulham at Craven Cottage. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Marco Silva will be working with almost a fully-fit squad when his Fulham side play host to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Saturday. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Al Ettifaq chiefs admitted they were left in shock when Jordan Henderson told them he wanted to leave just months into joining the Saudi Pro League club. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers will be looking to climb out of the Premier League relegation zone when they travel to Craven Cottage to face Fulham on Saturday afternoon. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Valencia will play their first game since the devastating DANA storm struck the region when they welcome Real Betis to Mestalla for Saturday's La Liga contest. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides that were glad to see international football intervene will return from a much-needed break on Saturday, as Aston Villa and Crystal Palace meet at Villa Park. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk St Johnstone host Kilmarnock this weekend at McDiarmid Park, in a clash between two struggling Scottish Premiership sides. 21 November 2024 talksport.com It would take a lot to humiliate Cole Palmer on a football pitch, but he's revealed what would need to happen to do so. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Iago Aspas is once again expected to start, as Celta Vigo continue their 2024-25 La Liga campaign with a contest against division leaders Barcelona on Saturday night. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona are set to again be without the services of a number of important players for Saturday's La Liga clash with Celta Vigo, including Lamine Yamal, with the Spaniard not yet recovering from an ankle problem. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams at opposite ends of the League One table meet on Saturday, as Burton Albion host Stockport County at the Pirelli Stadium. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo's YouTube video with Mr Beast hit one million views in just 30 minutes. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brighton & Hove Albion, Ipswich Town and Southampton are all reportedly interested in signing Vasco da Gama youngster Rayan. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk La Liga leaders Barcelona will be bidding to bounce back from a surprise defeat before the November international break when they resume their league campaign away to Celta Vigo on Saturday night. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Arsenal need a figure up front like Alexander Isak to replace Kai Havertz. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Celtic, looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the 2024-25 Scottish Premiership season, are set to travel to Tynecastle Park to face relegation-threatened Hearts on Saturday. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Ruben Amorim will take charge of his first game as Manchester United manager this weekend as his side take on Ipswich.
Sat 23 Nov, 14:00
A
Verona Verona
-
sch
Inter Inter
Sat 23 Nov, 20:00
L1
Reims Reims
-
sch
Lyon Lyon