Gabriel Martinelli received two yellow cards in quick succession when Arsenal traveled to the Molineux to face Wolves. He was suspended against Brentford which led to Emile Smith-Rowe taking his place in the lineup. Smith-Rowe put in a fabulous performance while also getting himself on the scoresheet. Arsenal welcome Wolves at the Emirates and whether Martinelli starts of Smith-Rowe is yet to be seen.
Former Leeds striker Noel Whelan suggested that Emile Smith-Rowe and Bukayo Saka might keep their places in the lineup for Wolves. This is a very important game for Arsenal as Wolves is a tough side that is fighting for the top four spot. Whelan believes winning lineups are not usually changed before going into important matches like these.
If the Gunners had a different result against Brighton then that would have led to some thought for Mikel Arteta. However, both Smith-Rowe and Saka ended up scoring which makes their case stronger to start the Wolves game too. Whelan also had encouraging words for the 20-year-old forward while speaking to Football Insider. He said that it is a plus for Arsenal to have a player like Martinelli on the bench.
However, when asked Mikel Arteta about who will be starting, he said that the decision depends upon how both players train before the match. Nevertheless, having both players available is a good type of stress to have for Mikel Arteta. They can be instrumental in opening the Wolves defense as it has been one of the toughest jobs for even the big clubs this season.
Why Gabriel Martinelli is likely to be on the bench for Arsenal against Wolves?
Martinelli had a fine evening before getting a red card against Wolves. That certainly changed the look of the game but Arsenal did well to be composed. However, there is no denying that Martinelli provides a lot of energy and nonstop running on the pitch. He can be a headache to face if he comes off from the bench with all that energy.
Moreover, Arsenal have momentum with a good result and a good performance. Brighton was a tough game but Arsenal made it look easy with huge credit to the players. Emile Smith-Rowe played a huge role in Arsenal’s victory over the Seagulls. Arteta may not want to lose this creativity from Smith-Rowe right after a brilliant performance.
On the other hand, Bukayo Saka has become undroppable for Arsenal. It will be very unusual to see Arsenal playing without Bukayo Saka. He is also in great form which means there’s not enough space for Martinelli. However, if he does train well and shows Arteta why he should start, then that might be interesting.
As suggested by Noel Whelan, Gabriel Martinelli should wait for his opportunity to come. The Brazilian is just 20 years old and is still learning the ways of football. Although, there is still a lot of maturity for all the youngsters in the Arsenal squad. It won’t be too late before Arsenal call for Gabriel Martinelli again as this quality depth is a must for all the big clubs.
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