I think this question will probably not divide many Arsenal fans at this time, with Martinelli struggling to do anything meaningful, despite his slightly improved performance yesterday, and Emile Smith Rowe slowly recapturing his past form at Fulham. It begs the question: what did Arteta see in Martinelli that he didn’t see in ESR?
Certainly, anyone who has ever watched football will acknowledge that Emile is a far more rounded player, with superior technical ability and passing. You could also argue that he is a better dribbler than Martinelli. Emile even proved a few years back that he is more than capable of contributing goals to this team when cutting in from the left. So could it really be as simple as Arteta lost faith in ESR’s ability to stay fit, rather than in his ability to be a part of the team?
Perhaps Gabriel Martinelli’s greatest asset right now, much like Ben White (usually), is being available. Other than that and great straight line speed he doesn’t appear to offer much else anymore, which is a shame because he too showed great promise that has not really materialised into anything beyond high velocity sprints toward the touchline that usually culminates in an aimless low cross into the box.
I don’t think anyone could or should question his effort; he is a willing runner both going forward and going backwards, but it is his tunnel vision when nearing goal that lets him down a bit. It is an attribute that could make him a dangerous striker were he ever to play that position on a regular basis, but as a winger he needs to be able to pick out players in a better position and this is probably why Arteta alternates him with Trossard so often.
I find Trossard an incredibly frustrating player. He has excellent technical ability and puts in a shift whenever he is on the pitch, but has never really convinced me he is of sufficient quality to match the manager’s ambitions. I once described him as a Poundland Eden Hazard and I stand by that description. What he brings though is everything Martinelli lacks, and the two of them combined is roughly what we had with Emile Smith Rowe; Great technical ability combined with pace, dribbling, and an eye for goal.
So did Arteta sell the wrong player and should he have allowed ESR more time to learn to trust his body again, because the Emile Smith Rowe of 2021/22 was so good he was arguably better than Bukayo Saka at that time. Trossard is already too old and is as good as he is ever going to get, and I do not believe Martinelli’s skill set or top-level ceiling is close to that of Smith Rowe.
Personally, I would have preferred Arteta keep Smith Rowe and allow him to operate down the left wing as he did back when he was good enough to get into the England squad on merit. Sadly, those days appear to be gone and whilst there may be a buy-back option I doubt he would be willing to return to play for a manager who overlooked him after he returned from injury, reducing him to 5 minutes cameos in the wrong position, and then subsequently sold him.
Ben Dungate
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trossard wants a Saudi move lets hope the club flogs him this time misses big chances slow just not good enough
Totally agree about ESR. Should have sold Zinchenko, Martinelli, Partey and Nelson before ESR.
The biggest mistake though was that ESR wasn’t replaced properly. Sterling is clearly not the answer
I think him and Martenelli had the on field chemistry that Saka and OG have.
Losing ESR immediately impacted GM.
Just my thoughts, but GM should have developed by now to not overly rely on someone else.
Also the right is our main focal point and I feel GM does not get the support down the left that Saka gets down the right.
@Sws
Losing ESR is not the reason for Martinellis regression. Emile was crocked too much to have any impact on Martinellis game. Martinelli had a better chemistry with Tierney and Xhaka than any other players.
Ah yes, I recall him and Tierney linking up really well. I think he needs that runner to overlap which lacks at the moment.
Imo he does not get the assistance Saka gets from Martin O.
If we can’t get the best out of him, maybe time to sell.
We needed to balance the books, so ESR sale was all profit, same as Nketiah.
Rather sell Vieira as he will never work out at Arsenal, instead we loan and waste time.
ESR earned chances, but Arteta did not think so.
While we all (and especially myself) cannot deny Martinelli’s struggles, I think this article isn’t about Smith Rowe as intended but about highlighting Martinelli’s flaws. Not sure why though.
Anyway, I can only say that we shouldn’t have let him go when we did. And I would sell Trossard instead of Martinelli if push comes to shove
I dont think it was a mistake. We got a good fee and hes just okay for Fulham.
I think the mistake was ever buying Vieira and having him and ESR at the same time on the team. Then suddenly getting rid both of them in the same window.
Also I think we are a winger short despite Sakas injury. Martinelli has been inconsistent, Trossard disappointing this season and Sterling hasnt been trusted at all.
We also have too many injury prone players in defence. Tomi, Zinc and Calafiori have been in and out of the infirmary so I believe we need a fullback we can count on staying fit. Maxim de Cuyper seems decent one, can play both sides and is already a Belgium international.
It was the right thing to sell him. I personally don’t understand the hype surrounding him. He was half decent going forward and that’s about it. Reminded me of Wlshire, played a decent match or two, then broke down.
Go ask the Arsenal bank account, Messrs PSR and FFP this question and hear what they will answer!
Arsenal even sent the perfect couple a wedding gift in a #10 envelope.
The fact that ESR was injury prone probably influenced Arteta in his decision to cash in while the going was good so to speak.His failure to give ESR game time when he was fit,like Tierney, did not make sense to me, as both these players are superior to some of the guys recruited by our Management team including Vieira,Lokonga ,Kwior, and the injury prone Zinchenko, not to mention the regular absences of Tomi and, more recently Calafiori.All in all, we are where we are, and ,despite our current injury problems I would not panic and rush to buy in January which is traditionally a seller’s market.The other day I heard from a family member who resides in Brighton, and is a big supporter of his local Club that Arsenal were very interested in taking one of their young forwards on loan for the rest of the season. I wonder who the player could be?
Totally agree with you Grandad.
Just like Arsene Wenger, Mikel Arteta has bought some underwhelming players.
Watching ESR playing now, it is hard not to admit it was a mistake selling him.
May I take this opportunity to wish everyone at JA and all it’s contributers a very Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year.
I hope Phil, Jon Fox, Sue and Kenny Rolfe are all reading this as well.
Miss all your contributions!!
Danny’s coming back! Oh wait…must be nice to be too “old” at 34.🤣
My hunch would be Simon Adingra if anybody although I cannot imagine Brighton would want to let him leave but I have no basis for this hunch other than him meeting the manager’s preferred profile but we will see.
No. ESR is a good player and he may go on to be a great player, but I would not be critical of the decision to sell him. Of course because Odegaard was injured, and now Saka, it doesn’t look like such a good decision. If we could have sold Reese Nelson instead, and ESR would have been happy to sit on the bench, I would have been OK with that too. It’s all ifs and buts.
Have we not already got enough injury prone players?
If a club offered in the region of 30 million, it was a no brainer! Especially given the 2 years left on his contract.
We have to sell at some point!
It only seems like a slight mistake because of injuries to our key attacking players, and loss of form for others, but I wouldn’t exactly say ESR is lighting the EPL up!
He’s getting a lot of minutes, and doing well, but nothing spectacular. In fact, one of our other old boys, Iwobi, is actually outshining ESR this season.
I have to agree with you where Iwobi is concerned. He has really turned himself into a proven Prem player who can operate in a multitude of positions.
@Ben
Exactly. Of the two, I would rather have Iwobi back…
@Lucy78
Real Talk…👍🏾
What if? What if? It is what it is and we are where we are, so why revisit the same question yet again? Martinelli on the left has lost his spark there but with Saka sadly out for 2-3 months perhaps we’ve found his replacement on the right with Trossard on the left, also perhaps more chances for Nwaneri, a more than adequate replacement for those still pining for ESR.
It seems unlikely there will be any incomings in the this window but Lewis-Skelly is also very good on the ball and I think a natural midfielder who can be replaced at LB with Calafiori. ESR has been ok at Fulham, nothing more from what I’ve seen and heard, also due to breakdown at some point.
It doesn’t matter now as he is gone but I would have preferred him to stay
Happy Christmas and season’s greetings to all on JA.
Like GB has pointed out, there is not much point in looking back for too long as it can’t alter what is happening now. A couple of times that I have watched Fulham games, ESR has come off the bench. Is he not an automatic starter? Anyway, I felt at the time it was better to cash in, regardless of the sentiments of ESR being an academy graduate. It is one of those situations that the club has to deal with from time to time.
Looking at the amount of time he has played since he left, we can say keeping him instead of loaning Sterling could have been better option. But it seems Arsenal wanted money and he was one of few sellable assets. Viera seems to be write off case on the accounting books. Arsenal clearly needs 2 more bodies in the attacking department in Jan. But our owners are not as ambitious as Chelsea or Liverpool nor do we have smart recruitment like Brighton or Villa
As a french gunners lover. I littelraly never understand emile treatment. I’m angry with Arteta but even more with the supporter who, in my opinion, never said anything about his sidelining. While without him Arteta’s first season would have been a bitter failure. In addition to showing immense potential and being from the club since his young age. His reward was the bench, a huge loss of visibility, and a late transfer to a mid-PL club.
Arteta’s work is good but he really didn’t respect smith rowe. After all, he is still far from the level he showed at Arsenal at Fulham. But I sincerely hope that he will make Arteta and ALL the fans who I don’t think supported him regret this choice.