Martinelli is on a run, and he surely doesn’t want to stop now!
I am one of those fans who is very happy to see Gabriel Martinelli be given his chances, and in turn see him taking them with open arms.
His presence in the team is always a threat, and although he is young, he is growing and will only get better the more he plays and the more experience he gets.
The fact that Mikel Arteta is picking him over the likes of Nicolas Pepe makes me happy, not only because he deserves his chance, but because you know he will do his best to prove himself each time he steps on to the pitch, which is something that at times cannot be said for Pepe.
And it goes to show what Arteta seems to think of Pepe, as at Everton the other night even Eddie Nketiah got put in front of him, and although he was a used sub against Southampton today and got around 10 minutes, you can’t help but feel that if Aubameyang did make the bench or the team, Pepe would not have even been an option.
You can’t help but think that had Martinelli not picked up those unfortunate early career injuries either, he would have surely been an ever present in the side, yet it goes to show what type of person he is with his character and attitude. Although he had setbacks with his injurie,s he got back up and is slowly proving himself, which results in being part of the matchday squad, with the faith the manager is showing in him.
Despite not scoring since the Newcastle game, Martinelli got another 90-minute run out in the win against Southampton, along with one assist after helping set up the goal for Gabriel to make it a 3-0 win. With more minutes under his belt it will only help his confidence grow, which in turn will be a good thing for Arsenal.
All in all, if he can keep injury free, keep up the momentum, and the positive effect he is having in the team and keep giving back to Arteta after he puts his faith and trust in him, then I do not see why he cannot be a big and important part of our team just like Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith-Rowe have become.
Because after all they will be our future, and what a future team we will have if they continue like this!
Well, heres hoping hey Gooners!
Shenel Osman
@sh3n3l_
FULL POST-SOUTHAMPTON PRESS CONFERENCE
My MOTM yesterday Along with Gabriel .
Has to be a mainstay in the team now,best thing about him is that he can play anywhere across the front 3 .
Shame he wasn’t trusted before this .
Martinelli is more dangerous when he attacks from the left wing, as compared to his previous performance in the CF position. Smith-Rowe is currently the best for the left winger role though, so Martinelli has to compete with him
He also showed that his pace can give the opposition’s LB a torrid time. So he can play as an RW in some games to confuse the opponents, or if our LW can’t produce anything in the first sixty minutes
He produced an assist through a corner kick. So he’d most likely play ahead of Smith-Rowe, when West Ham come to visit us
Who did he play against when he was CF?
He played against Chelsea at the Emirates this season
Bit difficult to make a full judgement when the whole team was rubbish against probably the most in form team in Europe at that stage….not that fair is it?
If he had a tremendous potential to play as a CF, he would’ve shown some decent hold-up play, won some aerial duels or at least won some ground battles to help our midfielders. Unfortunately he couldn’t escape from the opposition’s CBs
However, we must give Balogun and him at least four more chances to start as a CF, if the coaches intend to assign them there permanently. They’d probably get better with more CF role experience, or simply too weak/ green to play in that position
Look at the more decorated and the more experienced Donyell Malen, after he moved to Dortmund. He has similar stature and speed, and probably more technically gifted
Your long story doesn’t change the fact that you are judging him vs Chelsea when they were the best in Europe….bit silly.
*or if our RW can’t produce anything in the first sixty minutes
That’s wrong. If ESR were on the pitch, we wouldn’t have gone 27 minutes without a sigle shot. Besides that ESR is our best scorer at present. Don’t make the error of keeping him out.
Smith-Rowe is currently our best LW. But last game’s four attackers would most likely play ahead of him, because all of them produced assists/ goals
Beg to differ although your view is probably correct. I think Saka, Odo, and ESR withe Martinelli easing the line is the way to go.
Leading.
Maybe if Smith-Rowe plays as the CF again, since he did it decently against Villareal
Saka ………….. Odegaard ……….. Martinelli
…………………… Smith-Rowe
I agree with both of you. Is he ready to play CF for Arsenal? No and god knows, I really like the boy.
Can he step up to play CF? Yes, but he needs pateince for a run of games and coaching, non is available in Arsenal at the moment.
MA mishandled him by not playing him regularly or loaning him out. He is the type of coach who wants fo stick with 12-13 players, because he barely uses his subs even when they were 5. And he makes sudden changes from starting 11 to never playing to starting 11 to one time sub in a series of matches, he must be the most frustrating manager to squad players.
gai Southampton were a very poor team
They were poor but still able to unsettle our defense for twenty minutes
Martinelli inexplicably like others has been left twiddling his thumbs on the bench, while others “ahead” of him flounder. Like a few others he had to wait for injury or suspension to “catch” the managers eye but will he get a run or replaced with a managers favourite.
Spot on!it reminds me of the Chelsea game last season when MA had to make forced changes due to injuries/covid.. and “stumbled” on new lineup!
He deserves his chance.. I can’t say the same for some of the lads tho.. I wish we can outspend the other teams again this window and bring in more quality players.. all the summer signings are proving there worth.
Surely by now all right thinking Gooners must be able to see that MARTINELLI is massively deserving of a PROPER and EXTENDED regular start position . AND that the unprofessional, lazy, unmotivated Auba needs to be sold asap.
Or, as that will be realistically very difficult to achieve , given that ridiculous contract, then left to rot on the bench and only used in injury emergencies.
For the umpteenth time I AGAIN STATE my life long antipathy to ALL lazy players. They are plainly cheating we fans , their team mates, their profession, their manager and themselves.
They lack honour and I for one want them out of our club. No matter who they are or how good they may have been ONCE UPON A TIME!!
Some prefer to live in the past where once great players are concerned. But not me, as I REMAIN A PRACTICAL REALIST, CONCERNED ABOUT NOW
@ jon, if we have a means of selling Auba even before January, I dont mind. A captain must lead by example. I am not impressed by Aubameyang at all. I would rather give that CF role to Martinelli.
It is such a shame that fans seem to forget so quickly what Pepe brings to the team.
For the records, Pepe is the most clinical and composed finisher at this club. He was scoring goals week in week out towards the end of last season.
His unpredictability makes him an interesting prospect.
Arteta is a Conservative coach. And that was even who he was during his playing days as a defensive midfielder. Sideway passing, looking for the easy options.
If Klopp had not given Salah the freedom to express himself the way he does at Liverpool, He wouldn’t have been this clinical.
Nicholas Pepe is a top quality player. Arteta should rather play him in the middle or behind the main striker.
You can’t invest 72m pounds on a player and fail to bring out the best in him.
Aubameyang has been a failure since he signed the contract. He has been anonymous in most games. And he still plays.
Why can’t the same opportunity be given to Pepe?
As for Martinelli, he is a CF. A predator.
I would rather we sell Aubameyang in January. He is another Ozil. His mind is not in arsenal. He has lost the pace. A captain should lead by example.
The club should offer Lacazette a two year extension.
Sell Nketiah and Aubameyang in January.
Martinelli and Lacazette should be the 2 CF options in January. We should buy Sterling and Asensio in January.
Sterling will score goals. He knows the league. Has worked with Arteta before. Every player has a price.
We can’t really only on ESR, Saka and Martinelli the whole season..
Sterling is a must buy.
I would be deluded to think that what we have presently can fight for top4 or titles.
OUT
Aubameyang
Nketiah
Kolasinac
Holding
Guendouzi
Torrera
Elneny
Xhaka
IN
Sterling
Asensio
Bissouma
It is not rocket science.
My wishlist
CF: Martinelli, Lacazette
LW: Sterling, Pepe
RW: Saka, Asensio
Attacking Midfield: Odegaard, ESR
CM and DM: Partey, Lokonga, AMN, Bissouma
Central Defence: Gabriel, White, Saliba, Mari, Chambers,
Right Back: Tomiyasu, Soares
Left Back: Taveres, Tierney
So you think Mari is a better centre back than Holding.Thank goodness Arteta does not share your views.
@Grandad.
Holding is better.
But I feel one of Holding and Chambers should be sold.
Mari just for the numbers.
We may get some decent fees selling Holding and use the money to invest in the attacking players we need.
Our defence is sorted. Investing in Sterling, Assensio and Bissouma will surely come at a cost. We can get 30m ppunds from Holding sales. That is the angle im coming from.
Martinelli is not a centre forward.
At least not right now.
I think Martinelli is more than ready but would like to see him play along side Lacazette who will take out one or two defenders for Martinelli to have space to do his thing, 4.4.2 formation, ESR, Martinelli, Lacazette, and Saka all great ball controllers attacking would be any teams defenders nightmare
Take Holding out of there and place Mari on a plane back to Brazil instead. Him and chambers are HG players that we need plus Saliba is returning so our defenders would be Gabriel, White, Saliba, Holding. Chambers a utility player like AMN to which every squad needs these sort of players.
Soares and Bellerin will get us some money to buy a back up RB for Tomi, plus Leno too as he wont sit on the bench.
Bissouma or Zakaria (alot cheaper and able to play straght away) for Lucas, Matteo & Elneny departing with the 1st 2 bringing in some funds.
Thomas Xhaka Zakaria Lokonga AMN
Øde, SmithRowe are our creators or LW.
Saka has RW his own, Pepe needs to step up or step out of the club along with Eddie & Laca who i would try and offload in Jan. Auba may need to go also so if all 4 leave then we only have Martinelli, Nelson (when returns), Balogun & Possibly Patino from the Academy.
We will need a goal scorer and creative/goal scoring winger to add to the attack. Alof of changes to come
Agreed with your statement regarding Sterling, he would be my top pick along with a CF who can find the net every other game or every game if possible.
Was there ever any doubt?
Top player that deserves everything he’s getting..the problem is how to fit martinelli, ESR, saka and odegaard into the first eleven…. Arteta favors odegaard, so only 3 spots are available and unfortunately a senior striker takes one by default leaving two spots for 3 exceptional talents…
If it were pep managing the team, I wouldn’t be worried bout this cuz he has been able to use all the talents at City judiciously…
I would have preferred coaching some steel into odegaard and convert to a deep lying playmaker like jorginho,rodri,gundogan replacing xhaka
…then ESR takes his natural Attacking midfield position, martinelli and saka at the wings… problem solved
Tomiyasu at CB due to his aerial ability combined with Gabriel, Ben white at DM, Tavares at RB and Tierney at LB…
Couldn’t agree more instrooments.
Why?
Give Martinelli a run at striker, and all fit. ESR and Saka on the wings, Odegaard as a 10, with Partey and Sambi in midfield.
That gives us creativity across the front 3, and all 3 can create their own shots.
@Durand, we still have to sign quality attackers in January. We have scored few goals this season. Sterling should be the number one target in January
Good point you make, but I feel striker is priority over Sterling. We have Saka, Martinelli, ESR, and Pepe on the wings.
We have a bare cupboard at striker. Auba is poor, Laca too and is leaving. Nketiah is not PL caliber, and Balogun unused and untested.
Striker should be the priority and fixed immediately. Followed by midfield DM.
White could be DM with Saliba taking over at CB.
Sterling would only keep ESR or Martinelli on the bench when they need more playing time and experience
Durand I didn’t see your post but I totally agree
If we buy Sterling then ESR and Martinelli will be left out as they all like playing similar positions
Spot on 👍
With the squad we’ve got this is our best starting line up IMO.
These guys could do high pressing and keep attacking when we have the lead.
I for 1 don’t see sterling leaving city come this january. Its basically for guardiola and him to sort things out and all other things will follow. Sterling isn’t leaving city period!!!
We need a striker and a,midfielder this January..
Auba has checked out, Laca out the door soon too, Partey has been a,massive disappointment, Xhaka needs no words..
AMN and Lokonga are very untested.
Damn, I think Vlahovic is out of our reach now..
And concerning CM position, Tielemans should be our priority next summer. That boy has got it all!
@ DaJuhi. Telemann. Hmmm. That is a dream signing. I don’t mention his name cos Leicester won’t sell him for less than 100m pounds. lol.
Partey still does not know how to take a low shot. It seems that is not part of his training routine.
His long range shots are always disappointing.
@Skills,
He’ll be out of contract soon (2023), Leicester can’t go too bonkers!
We need a striker and a winger who can provide many assists as well as scoring. Emmanuel Dennis is a very good option. He’s very productive with Watford, an under-performing team and can do really well for us
Why is Saliba being talked about when Arsenal are still in the 2021-2022 season’s campaign, and he won’t return to the club till next summer?
And being a top rated EPL player, can Arsenal afford paying Sterling his Man City wages or more? Which he could ask for if they bid for him in Jan. That’s assuming he accepts to come to us and his MNC club side who are currently in the title race will want to move him on in Jan.
E Nkethia leaving Arsenal on sale in Jan may not happen if what I’ve read about this.issue is true. And neither do I see it happen also next summer if Arteta’s strong stance to see him continue his career at Arsenal beyond his current deal at the club is to rely on.
Martinelli and other Arsenal players who are worthy to be giving a chance to start or play will continue to be giving starting role or appearance in the EPL and in tough Cup games to play i assume. In particular, if Martinelli continues in his current playing form in the team and improved on it I believe he’ll get more chances to start or come on in matches.
On Aubameyang, I don’t think Arsenal will sell him in Jan window. Neither do I see he will want to leave the club on the low. I think him and Arteta will settle the unfortunate differences that embarrassinglyu came up between them. And will evolve it quickly to move forward in the overall interest of the club progress to attain the top-four place finish this season. In which Auba is integer to this Arsenal campaign. And for this reason, I am making a plea to Auba to always give peace a chance to reign between his manager himself. And try to be sober at all times both in the dressing room and on the training ground always showing respect and genuine respect to his manager the, top club officials, staff and his playing colleagues. Let Auba eschew any kind of indiscipline act that can damage his reputation at Arsenal.
Let him return to full training as from this weeks Monday – Friday to train very hard in preparation foe our very important EPL home match against WHAM. That’s:another MUST win match for Arsenal which the Gunners that should include Auba hopefully included in the team for the match by Arteta and start him to score or assistance to help us beat WHAM.
Why is Saliba being talked about when Arsenal are still in the 2021-2022 season’s campaign, and he won’t return to the club till next summer?
And being a top rated EPL player, can Arsenal afford paying Sterling his Man City wages or more? Which he could ask for if they bid for him in Jan. That’s assuming he accepts to come to us and his MNC club side who are currently in the title race will want to move him on in Jan.
E Nkethia leaving Arsenal on sale in Jan may not happen if what I’ve read about this.issue is true. And neither do I see it happen also next summer if Arteta’s strong stance to see him continue his career at Arsenal beyond his current deal at the club is to be relied on.
Martinelli and other Arsenal players who are worthy to be giving a chance to start or play will continue to be giving starting role or appearance in the EPL and in tough Cup games to play i assume. In particular, if Martinelli continues in his current playing form in the team and improved on it I believe he’ll get more chances to start or come on in matches.
On Aubameyang, I don’t think Arsenal will sell him in Jan window. Neither do I see he will want to leave the club on the low. I think him and Arteta will settle the unfortunate differences that embarrassinglyu came up between them. And will resolve it quickly to move forward in the overall interest of the club progress to attain the top-four place finish this season. In which Auba is integer to this Arsenal campaign. And for this reason, I am making a plea to Auba to always give peace a chance to reign between his manager himself. And try to be sober at all times both in the dressing room and on the training ground always showing respect and genuine respect to his manager the, top club officials, staff and his playing colleagues. Let Auba eschew any kind of indiscipline act that can damage his reputation at Arsenal.
Let him return to full training as from this weeks Monday – Friday to train very hard in preparation foe our very important EPL home match against WHAM. That’s:another MUST win match for Arsenal which the Gunners that should include Auba hopefully included in the team for the match by Arteta and start him to score or assist to help us beat WHAM.
Martinelli is perfect as a winger, but the problem is ESR is doing great on the left. The solution though would be to play ESR as no.10 with Odegard taking the place of Xhaka. In that way, Martinelli, Saka and ESR will all fit at the same time. With Laca upfront, it gives us both the pressing ability and creativity with these players.
Arsenal need to go out there and bring in better experience players to guide our young team..
The ones we call experience players in our club are even playing and behaving like youngsters, in practice everyone at Arsenal is a young player.
Saka Martineli ESR Lokonga.. shouldn’t be starting our games, we seem to forget that we are not playing in the French league.. let this boys grow into the team with less pressure on them…
We need a Tielemans, Jimenez, Sterling, Bissouma
Getting experience players in doesn’t mean we are not on project youth anymore, our young players will only grow by learning not by excessive pressure..
How will the likes of Lokonga and Taveres learn when they are in and out of the team? Sometimes they don’t even know why they are being left out, decisions like that will only affect them psychologically and dent their progress..
Though it’s all wishful thinking about the signings even though I want them signed up but deep down am not confident the likes of Sterling or Asencio will perform better for us… reasons because someone boldly pointed out that that the Manager is a conservative one…
If the manager is conservative about the likes of Pepe.. what are the chances that Sterling or Asencio will do better under the same man?