As the inquests go on regarding Arsenal’s poor performances, lack of goals and worst start to a Premier League season since 1981, it’s becoming clear that one player in particular needs immediate inclusion as soon as is humanly possible. No, not Mesut Ozil, Gabriel Martinelli!
The Brazilian is the answer down the flank alongside Reiss Nelson or Pepe. Arsenal are struggling for goals and Martinelli will definitely get his share but more importantly, the youngster has a tremendous desire and an appetite to get forward to assist.
His movement is exceptional and his eye for goal belongs to a much more experienced player. Since his injury, the forward has been in the gym and it’s noticeable that he has built up his muscle reserves, which could make him even more formidable in the attack.
When he arrived in North London for the measly sum of £6.3 m from Ituano in 2019, he was a slender youth but he is developing quickly to add physicality to his game. Arsenal are in desperate need of a player that Jurgen Klopp described as the “Talent of the Century” and recent valuations have him at £22m but he is worth double that easily. However, it’s not about his price tag, it’s how he can help Arteta turn the tide and assist Aubameyang to find the net.
There are a series of painful decisions coming Mikel Arteta’s way and he will have to upset quite a few players in the coming weeks before January’s transfer window. Saka may have to be redeployed in a traditional midfield role as the Spanish boss looks for the answer to the riddle and that would mean Arsenal reverting to a 4-4-2.
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Out of Pepe, Willian and Nelson, one will surely have to go and if a role can’t be found for Maitland-Niles he needs to be shipped out. It’s very tempting to have a mass cull of existing players but that’s not possible without having ready-made replacements that are of the same standard or better.
Some will say that the standard is poor anyway and I’d agree with that in principle because too many players are hiding behind Arteta’s tactics rather than admit they aren’t good enough. Gabriel Martinelli is someone who gives everything and Arsenal require that drive and quality having suffered an embarrassing goal drought in the Premier League.
Rumours are rife that Arsenal have agreed to bring in a midfielder in the January window, but it remains to be seen who that might be. It’s a priority signing but that should have been the case in the summer and suggestions that Edu bought in Partey instead of Aouar are now a cause of concern and deep irritation, especially with the club’s decision to omit Mesut Ozil.
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Yes, let’s just say that again, Ozil’s exclusion is one hundred and ten percent a club decision and not Arteta’s and is based on the player’s social media activity that cost Arsenal revenue. In the light of that situation, the club should have replaced him but yet again, the club made the wrong decision.
Gabriel Martinelli may not be able to solve all Arteta’s woes, but the notion of him returning to action reasonably soon is the most exciting news that Arsenal fans have heard in months.
