Saliba and Martinelli contribute to Arsenal's growing injury concerns

Arsenal players William Saliba and Gabriel Martinelli are set to sit out the League Cup fourth round clash with Brighton, as the club's injury troubles continue to pile up.

The French centre-back Saliba had to leave the pitch at the break following an undisclosed knock during Arsenal's victory against Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday.

The Brazilian winger Martinelli picked up a problem and hobbled off after entering the game as a replacement in the second half versus Palace.

Manager Mikel Arteta confirmed that Declan Rice is fit to feature against Brighton despite his own issue from the Palace match, but he remains uncertain about the recovery time for Saliba and Martinelli.

Being without these vital squad members for an extended period would represent a significant challenge for Arsenal in their pursuit of a first Premier League crown since 2004 and their initial Champions League triumph.

The Emirates outfit is already missing Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke, and Gabriel Jesus through various injuries.

"He is sidelined. We are evaluating his condition, but he will not take part in this fixture," Arteta commented about Saliba on Tuesday.

"Martinelli appears to be unavailable too. Further assessments are needed to gauge the damage, but this encounter will come too soon for him."

Martinelli's unavailability adds yet another hurdle to Arteta's forward line choices.

Viktor Gyokeres, who joined from Sporting Lisbon during the transfer window, has featured from the start in all 12 of Arsenal's Premier League and Champions League outings this season, netting five times.

Arteta, whose previous silverware with the side came via the 2020 FA Cup, is cautious about thinning out his striking resources even more and may opt to give the Swedish forward a break against Brighton.

"Up top, that is where our challenges are greatest with Noni sidelined, Kai absent, Gabriel Jesus unavailable, and now Gabriel Martinelli too," Arteta noted.

"That is the sector demanding extra caution and awareness, given our limited alternatives.

"We aim to handle the workload effectively, ensuring the squad stays sharp, performs strongly, and upholds the standard we have been demonstrating."

The success against Palace has extended Arsenal's lead to four points at the Premier League summit, with seven triumphs in their nine league encounters.

Arteta is relishing the positive atmosphere surrounding the team this season, following the disappointment of consecutive second-place finishes in the Premier League over the past three years.

"That is precisely our goal," he stated. "When supporters are buzzing and the squad delivers consistent high-level performances, it provides solid grounds for optimism.

"To claim major honours, you must cultivate that mindset within the group, the organisation, and its community.

"We hold a strong standing right now, yet we recognise how premature it is and the toughness of each upcoming test."