Arsenal return to the English Premier League tonight but it’s still unclear whether Gabriel Martinelli will start or not. The Brazilian international has recently taken part in Brazil’s World Cup Qualifiers. But under Mikel Arteta’s new system, Martinelli has become the second-choice player. Although he has played some matches already, only because of the sudden injury of Bukayo Saka. It’s clear that things aren’t going as it was supposed to go for the left-winger. The struggle continues for the footballer, though. If everything goes as it is going right now, Gabriel Martinelli can regain his starting place in this new Arsenal side.
Why Can’t Arsenal Lose Martinelli?
There are always a bunch of players in every club who are the diamonds in the rough. Gabriel Martinelli has been such an asset in this Arsenal side for some years now. He has always given his everything on the pitch for the sake of Arsenal. So even after signing Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze, Martinelli has been asked to stay at the club. But this has exactly become the issue here. After crucially serving for the team, Martinelli feels that he still has a lot to deliver in this team as a starter. Although he is ready to take the challenge. He already started the match against Liverpool at the Anfield. Despite losing against the Reds, Martinelli’s performance was not bad, though. Arteta believes that Gabriel Martinelli can be a vital part of the team. While Madueke can operate both as a left-winger and a right-winger, it is easier for him to book a place in the first eleven than Martinelli. For instance, Madueke put up a good performance as a right-winger in the last match before the international break.
New Signing Might Have Overshadowed Martinelli
The Arsenal fans have some reasons to be delighted over the addition of Eberechi Eze. The former Crystal Palace winger has joined the Gunners in the last week of the summer transfer window. Tottenham Hotspur were also in the fray, but the player himself dramatically chose Arsenal over the UEFA Europa League winners. First of all, Eze can also operate as an attacking midfielder for Arsenal. At this moment, Eze is surely a better choice than Martinelli. Eze himself has proved that in his short debut against Liverpool. Unlike the Brazilian, the English attacker took on at least two Liverpool defenders at a time. Whereas Martinelli was playing on a counterattack-based football. But that didn’t go according to the plan as Liverpool backline took care of Viktor Gyokeres. Eze is also a better player when it comes to scoring decisive goals for the team. Eze has logged 14 goals and 11 assists overall for the Eagles last season. Although a portion of the fans believe that Martinelli is overthinking about his future at this club, there is no doubt that the Brazilian needs to overperform to be a regular starter.
What’s Next for Martinelli at Arsenal?
Martinelli’s future is not as bad as Trossard’s. Arsenal still have faith in his productivity. Last season, Martinelli registered 10 goals and 5 assists in 51 games. But he still is capable of running behind the open spaces during a match. But that doesn’t mean that he is untouchable in the market. He still has two more years left at the club, but Arsenal can consider selling him if a reasonable offer comes. On the other hand, Martinelli can also agree to the move if Arteta keeps on playing him as a substitute. But football is an unpredictable sport and that’s where its actual thrill lies. The club has set a target for the player and if Martinelli succeeds in achieving that, Arsenal will surely want to keep him.
Stay tuned for news.
