Gabriel Martinelli & Ederson withdraw from Brazil squad ahead of Premier League title showdown

Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli and Manchester City’s Ederson have each withdrawn from the Brazil squad for international friendlies later this month as a result of injuries.

The Brazilian football federation (CBF) announced on Monday night the changes to the original squad that had been named by head coach Dorival Junior at the start of March.

Martinelli has been replaced by Porto forward Galeno, who scored a stunning late Champions League winner against Arsenal in the recent last 16 first leg between the sides. Ederson’s replacement is Vasco da Gama goalkeeper Leo Jardim. Flamengo defender Fabricio Bruno has also been added to the squad in place of Paris Saint-Germain captain Marquinhos, also because of injury.

All three new additions are uncapped at senior international level, giving this Brazil side a more than experimental flavour ahead of facing England at Wembley and Spain at the Bernabeu on 23 and 26 March respectively. In total, 11 of the 26 players have never set foot on the pitch for the Selecao before, now including all three of the goalkeepers with usual starter Alisson already previously ruled out, while only nine have reached double figures in international caps.

Both Martinelli and Ederson remain doubts for the huge Premier League clash between their respective clubs on 31 March, with the Gunners leapfrogging both City and Liverpool in the title race over the weekend following the most recent set of results.

Martinelli limped out of Arsenal’s previous game, a 6-0 thrashing of Sheffield United, after suffering a nasty cut on his foot. Meanwhile, Ederson was injured on Sunday at Anfield when he conceded a penalty challenging Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez and could miss up to four weeks. Stefan Ortega is set to start in goal for City for at least their next game against Newcastle United in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday.