Gabriel Martinelli misses Arsenal training ahead of Porto clash

The Brazilian came off with a cut to his foot against Sheffield United last Monday, although Mikel Arteta was "pretty positive" that he would be fine for the weekend's showdown with Brentford.

Martinelli was ultimately not passed fit for the clash with the Bees, though, and he was apparently seen walking through the mixed zone on crutches following the Gunners' 2-1 win.

As is obligatory with European matches, Arsenal hosted the media for the first part of their Monday session, where Martinelli was not involved with his teammates at London Colney.

However, both Takehiro Tomiyasu (knock) and Jurrien Timber (ACL) were present with the rest of the squad, although the latter will be gradually re-integrated into the team following his devastating injury.

Meanwhile, Tomiyasu is yet to play for the Gunners in 2024, having sustained a calf injury before the Asian Cup and then returning from the continental tournament with a knock.

Arteta was pressed on whether Tomiyasu and Martinelli would be available for Tuesday's second leg in his pre-game press conference, but the Spaniard - who is often tight-lipped when it comes to team news - did not have much to share.

"Not many updates. We still have 24 hours and we are trying to have everyone fit and available. He [Takehiro Tomiyasu] did the first part (of training), and Gabi [Martinelli] didn't," Arteta told reporters.

The hosts will certainly welcome one player back to the squad, though, as David Raya could not face parent club Brentford at the weekend, where his deputy Aaron Ramsdale was at fault for Yoane Wissa's equaliser before making amends with two vital second-half saves.

Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus - who have struggled with respective calf and knee issues in 2024 - were brought off the bench in the second half of Saturday's game, and both could now be in line for their first starts since recovering from their afflictions.

When asked whether Jesus or Zinchenko were in contention for recalls to the XI, Arteta added: "Everybody that is available has to be available enough to play because you might have to play after five minutes or from the start. The boys are in a good place."

Jesus and Leandro Trossard will seemingly compete to stand in for Martinelli, who was partially culpable for Galeno's winner for Porto in the first leg, gifting possession back to the Portuguese side in injury time.

Arteta's men failed to have a single shot on target in their 1-0 first-leg defeat - the first time that they had achieved that unwanted feat in a Champions League game since 2011 - but they have won their previous three home games against Porto by an aggregate score of 11-0.

Arsenal overcame a one-goal deficit against Porto the last time they progressed beyond the last 16 of the Champions League, prevailing 5-0 at the Emirates following a 2-1 loss in Portugal in the 2009-10 season.