GABRIEL MARTINELLI hobbled off the pitch with an ankle injury less than 20 minutes into Arsenal's crunch clash with Brighton.
The Arsenal star was crocked by Moises Caicedo a few moments after the Brazilian almost took Kaoru Mitoma's head off with a dangerously-high challenge in the first half of the Emirates showdown.
Martinelli tried his best to play through the pain but was forced off in the 18th minute.
He was then spotted wearing a protective boot on the sidelines in worrying images for fans.
Gunners supporters were left furious at the 21-year-old's injury, which they claimed was the result of an intentional foul from Caicedo – in revenge for Martinelli's challenge on Mitoma.
One tweeted: "Caicedo gets revenge on Martinelli with a late challenge from behind."
Another said: "Caicedo taking the revenge of Martinelli punch on Mitoma."
And another said: "Caicedo revenge for Mitoma I guess."
One footie fan said: "Love that from Caicedo. Left one on Martinelli.
"Revenge for Mitoma."
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And another chimed in: "Caicedo was trying to take revenge."
Their fury grew ten-fold when replays of Caicedo and Mitoma slapping hands with one another just after the foul started doing the rounds on social media.
One Gooner tweeted: "It's cool how Mitoma congratulated his teammate Caicedo for a challenge that injured an opponent and ultimately forced him out of the game.
"F*****g classless trash, that."
Another said: "That handshake at the end showed the bad tackle on Martinelli was deliberate in retaliation to his tackle on Mitoma seconds before."
Other footie fans, however, loved the embrace.
One said: "Love that from Caicedo, handshake with Mitoma after in all."
Another said: "That handshake from Mitoma to Caicedo though."
Arsenal started the match four points behind first-placed Manchester City – who put the heat on them with a 3-0 win over Everton at Goodison Park earlier this afternoon.
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