When the Premier League returns this weekend, all eyes will be on the London rivalry between Chelsea and Arsenal. Is London red or blue?
Mikel Arteta and the boys will travel to Stamford Bridge next Saturday, and I believe there is one player in our team who Chelsea should be scared of. Gabriel Martinelli is that player for me.
The Brazilian international started our first five league games of the season, doing what he does best, giving right backs a run for their money. Nonetheless, he suffered an injury when we played Everton on September 17th while continuing to establish his rhythm this season.
That injury kept him out of the 2-2 draw in the North London derby with Spurs and the 4-0 win over Bournemouth in the league. He also missed the Champions League games in which we beat PSV 4-0 and lost to Lens 2-1. And he also missed the 1-0 win over Brentford in the Carabao Cup.
Fortunately, he came back against Manchester City when we needed something special since Bukayo Saka, our “magician,” missed that game.
Versus the defending champs, he came off the bench as a halfway substitution against the defending champions and clearly demonstrated what we had been missing in recent weeks, revitalising the left wing and making it dangerous after weeks of it looking flat withot the Brazilian.
Mikel Arteta stated after the win over Manchester City, prior to the international break, that he hadn’t even intended to play Martinelli, but I’m sure he couldn’t help but listen to Martinelli’s pleas to play him because he needed a spark of magic against the Champions.
With Bukayo Saka again a bit of a doubt for our Chelsea game after having numerous knocks lately, we can rely on Martinelli to impact our performance.
The feeling is that throughout this international break (after his cameo versus Manchester City), he has continued to push and do everything possible to be fit to be a source of strength for us when we face Chelsea, who appear to be on the rise; they’ve won the last two league games.
Gabriel Martinelli, I feel, will play a huge part against Chelsea. Do you agree?
Sam P
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I predict Martinelli will be involve in two goals this weekend. Seriously I can’t see Chelsea getting anything at all from the game. I predict a comfortable 3:0 win for us.
Oh dear, “comfortable” you say? I really hope you’re right.
I just hope your predictions don’t come back to hunt you.
Chelsea seem to be serious of late and the game is at Stamford bridge. We had joy at the bridge for some season now so let’s get serious
It is not only Martinelli, I would include Saka(if he plays), Partey, Saliba, Rice and Gabriel, who will all have important roles to play. Chelsea are beginning to find their football back, so it will not be an easy game although I still expect Arsenal to win.
Martinelli’s gotta work with Martin to wreck havock on chelsea’s watertight defence cos both men’s flair and creativity will very much be needed in this encounter. Jesus on the opposite flank with Nketiah down the middle is a sure bet in handing us all three points. Personally not a fixture/venue i’d fancy coming back from the int’l break but it is what it is unfortunately.
I like Martinelli and he’s crucial to our play but I’m just glad we finally have a team where we don’t necessarily need a ‘main man’ because we have goal threats from various parts of the team. Gone are the days when we had to depend on a Fabregas, RVP, Alexis or Auba. That said, Martinelli’s pace and ability to take on defenders will be a massive boost for the team.
Martinelli always manages to get Jesus in top gear whenever they play together so I’m hoping both will be in the first eleven. Saka will be fresh and rearing to go, if he’s over his injury. I wish Arteta would learn to alternate Havertz and Nketiah so we don’t end up with both playing together..Partey is a must if we want to cancel out Caicedo in MF. I’m glad we’ll have White and not Tomiyasu, with Saliba, Maghaeles, Zinchenko/Kiwrior, because Sterling has hit his top form and would run rings around Tomi.
I think your criticism of Tomi is completely unfounded, indeed I consider him to be our best man marker who could be trusted to keep Sterling quiet.The same does not apply to Zinchenko.
Tomi and Saliba are the best one vs one but he is better of this days from the left side of defence. I would prefer him to Zichenko. White is best at right back defence. I don’t see Chelsea wining I would consider a win or draw for Arsenal. Yes water tight defence but still con ceed goals.
Grandad I could be wrong but from my observations,Zinchenko has stepped up defensively this season. I thought he did well against Doku,who is a very tricky winger,although it was for a short spell. I can’t really remember any instances where he’s been overrun by wingers so far.
Surely the young Brazilian is expected to figure prominently at the Bridge come this weekend, But I would like to think this is the ground the big German could return to life.
MARITNELLI WAS TARGETED BY Moises Caicedo when we played Brighton last campaign and escaped a red card while Martinelli got injured in that incident. He later on acknowledged his act and said he didn’t know it would lead to injury. I hope he leaves him alone this time.
Players can’t target opponents in that way. We aren’t wild animals