Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Gabriel Martinelli will not be available for Wednesday's Champions League Group B clash with PSV Eindhoven due to a hamstring injury.
For the first time since a 5-1 last-16 defeat to Bayern Munich in 2017, the Emirates Stadium will host a top-level European match on Wednesday, as the Gunners commence their bid for a top-two spot against Peter Bosz's side before meeting Sevilla and Lens later this autumn.
However, Arteta was handed an untimely concern with Martinelli ahead of the highly-anticipated battle, as the Brazilian came off in the first half of Sunday's 1-0 Premier League win over Everton.
Martinelli appeared to pull his hamstring while charging through to find the back of the net - although his strike was chalked off for offside - and he was replaced by Leandro Trossard, who went on to score the game's only goal.
Martinelli re-emerged to take his place on the bench at Goodison Park, and Arteta was unsure of the severity of his problem after the game, but he delivered the bad news during his pre-game press conference.
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"He felt something in his hamstring, we need to do some further tests to assess if there is any big damage or not, but he will be out for tomorrow's game that's for sure," Arteta said.
Arsenal's opening Champions League tie precedes the first North London derby of the season, which sees the Gunners host Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates on Sunday, but Arteta has not ruled Martinelli out of the clash with their arch-rivals.
When asked if the attacker could be available to face Spurs, Arteta added: "It's a possibility. We don't know yet, as I said we need some more tests and then see what happens."
Martinelli joins a trio of long-term injury victims in the Arsenal infirmary, as Thomas Partey is still recovering from a groin problem and is unlikely to be available for another few weeks.
Meanwhile, Jurrien Timber and Mohamed Elneny are both recuperating from serious knee injuries, but the Egyptian midfielder is now training with the team again, and Arteta confirmed that he is in the "latter stages" of his rehabilitation.
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With Granit Xhaka departing for Bayer Leverkusen this summer, Elneny is the only surviving member from Arsenal's 2016-17 Champions League squad, and Arteta has implored his side to "make the most" of their 'deserved' return to the continent's elite tournament.
"It has been a long time for the club since we have been in the competition, and for me it is the first time as a manager, so I am really looking forward to it," the 41-year-old added.
"We are proud and excited. We have been chasing it and fighting for it. Now we have got it and we have to make the most out of it. Every time I watched it and we weren't there, I felt it. This club has to be in the Champions League. It was a process but we are here now.
"It is always a learning process. I think we did and we have improved as a team, we have improved the squad and we deserve to be here."
Arteta was also quizzed on the Arsenal goalkeeping situation after promoting David Raya to the starting XI in place of Aaron Ramsdale against Everton, but the Spaniard repeatedly refused to comment on the battle for the number one jersey.
Ben Knapton
