Arsenal and Tottenham stars called up for international duty after fresh injury updates

Evening Standard

·3 de marzo de 2025

Arsenal and Tottenham stars called up for international duty after fresh injury updates

The pair are on course to face-off during the international break

Cristian Romero and Gabriel Martinelli could renew hostilities during the international break

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Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli and Tottenham defender Cristian Romero have been selected for international duty later this month by Brazil and Argentina respectively.

Martinelli’s inclusion is somewhat of a surprise given, last week, Mikel Arteta appeared to rule the Brazilian out until after the international break with a hamstring injury sustained in the 2-0 Carabao Cup semi-final second leg loss to Newcastle last month.

Meanwhile, Romero is included by Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni despite not having played a game for Spurs since December.

It should be noted that this it a preliminary squad that has been named by the current World Champions. It will eventually be cut down, so it remains to be seen if the Tottenham defender makes the final cut.

A persistent thigh injury has disrupted the centre-back’s season as he’s made just 14 appearances across all competitions so far.

The last of which came in the 4-3 defeat at home to Chelsea a couple of months ago as he pulled up 15 minutes into his return to action following a previous spell on the sidelines.

Now, Romero has returned to first-team training with Spurs, and is on course to be fit and available for selection for the Europa League last-16 decider against AZ Alkmaar a week on Thursday.

Speaking recently, Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou delivered a fresh timeline for Romero’s return along with Micky van de Ven and Dominic Solanke.

"The first European game I’d say outside chance for any three of them but certainly they’ll be back training fully by then and then we’ve got Bournemouth on the weekend and I reckon much better odds for that.

Injury blow: Cristian Romero

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"And definitely, by the second European game they should all be available to play.

"Dom’s the only one where we’ve got to be careful because he’s ahead of schedule so I don’t want push that in case we need to pull the reins in a bit but with Romero and Van de Ven that’s the plan at this stage.

"We’ve a little window where hopefully we can get something into them and still got two European games and three league games between now and the international break so I really want them up and running by then."

Argentina host Brazil in Buenos Aires on 26 March (12am GMT) in a World Cup qualifier that could pit Romero against Martinelli if both players make the final cut of their respective squads.