Is Gabriel Martinelli’s performance versus Ipswich one that could give Mikel Arteta a lot to ponder ahead of the winter transfer window?
Last season, in the final PL matchday, Martinelli impressed as a right winger. Last weekend, after Saka was subbed off due to injury in the 24th minute during the 5-1 win over Crystal Palace, Martinelli was given another chance at RW to shine and he did that.
After his bright performance on the RW at Selhurst Park, many were sure the Brazilian was set for a resurgence, preaching how he was going to play himself into relevancy.
However, Martinelli didn’t have his best game versus Ipswich. He had a decent first half with a couple of good crosses, but unfortunately, he offered nothing else. In the second half, he went “missing in action” with 0 shots, 0 key passes, and 0 dribbles completed.
The Brazilian winger’s performance against Ipswich was not good for a player who was going to have a chance to make the RW his own in Saka’s extended absence.
Saka underwent surgery for his hamstring injury, as confirmed by coach Mikel Arteta. He could be out until March. As reliable as Saka is, if Arteta doesn’t get it right on the right wing, Arsenal will miss their #7 massively.
🚨 Mikel Arteta: “Bukayo Saka will be out for many, many weeks… probably MORE than 2 months”.
“He underwant surgery. Now it depends… how the scar tissue starts to heal, the mobility of that”. pic.twitter.com/MXZXA0zjkt
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 27, 2024
One could argue that Martinelli struggled because Ipswich played with a low block, he’s still not in sync with Martin Ødegaard, and the Ipswich players were doubling up on him. He cannot receive on inside angles, so Ødegaard and Timber are literally struggling to give him the ball.
The £6 million 2019 recruit may have fooled us with his RW cameos, but he’s not the best option there.
I would understand if Mikel Arteta opts for either Ethan Nwaneri, Kai Havertz, or Gabriel Jesus at RW in the next game. But Arteta is stubborn, so don’t be shocked if he sticks with Martinelli, giving Martinelli fans airtime to peddle other excuses of why things aren’t clicking
That said, the South American needs to step up and do it quickly, or else his days at Arsenal are numbered. He may have to make way for a better winger.
Darren N
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Grade 3 hamstring tear,, plus surgery, will be more like 3 to 5 months out. Rehabilitation can be painstakingly slow. Could be another Michael Owen. For each grade of hamstring tears, there are different stages of those tears
Hope Mikel Arteta learns his lesson from o reloading players with too many matches. He is partially to be blamed for Saka’s injury condition, same happened to City Rodri with PePG admitting he played too many games last two season.
Arteta failed to get a deputy for Saka despite many fans asking for one. Players are no machines no matter how good they are they remain humans with physical limitations.
Get the impression that you don’t like Martinelli much and are looking for reasons to back up your position . It’s a kind of confirmation bias , but I would point out that had Havertz , Jesus and others attacked the ball then at least three of his early crosses could have resulted in goals. In fact Trossard’s pass to Havertz came about because a Martinelli cross went untouched on it’s way across the box.
Martinelli needs space to work and as the game grew on , the blanket defending reduced the space available . He isn’t Saka and he doesn’t have the same close control but if the suppliers moved the ball quicker he would get the room in which he thrives.
Couldn’t agree more with your post potter.
Hope you’re well. In case you’re wondering who I am, we were both on the old Arsenal message board, then the forum that followed it, and I met you, along with TGP and Hobart after the Norwich game many years ago.
Nice to know that theres a few of us still about . TGP was a lovely lady and Hobart is doing ok . We still get down to London for a few games although the silly o clock midweek games are more difficult .
You have hit the nail on the head Potter with regard to Martinelli needing space to be effective..If our Manager curbed his obsession with winning the possession game and reverted to a more direct attacking policy Martinelli might become a real asset to compare with the likes of Diaz, Nunez and Gackpo who run so well off the ball for Liverpool.Of course the fact that we no longer have overlapping full backs to distract the opposition is another reason why our wingers have not shone this season.Yesterday Trossard showed what could be achieved by getting to the byline yet the only other Arsenal player who can do this ,namely KT does not figure in Artetas future plans.Basically our tactics need to be changed if we are to become more convincing and successful but I very much doubt if Arteta would even acknowledge that the Pep tactics he employs could just be reaching the end of their shelf life.
It seems a no-brainer to play Gabriel Jesus at RW for the rest of the season, because realistically that is what it’s looking like with Saka’s injury. It’s his best position and he offers excellent ball retention, a consistent goal threat, and reliable defensive work rate. Additionally, the team looks better with Kai Havertz as the focal point of the attack.
It would be nice to see Nwaneri get a decent run in the side out there as well, and it would maintain the off-footed winger set-up. The boys needs match time but MA seems reluctant to give it to him, suggesting he doesn’t trust him. This is surprising given his good performances when called upon, so you have to wonder at the manager’s logic here.
I like Martinelli but he feels more like and old fashioned RM or striker to me, with his head-down tunnel-vision but that doesn’t suit today’s game. He can be a good finisher but is limited in what he can do. He was very good a couple of seasons ago when he had Tierney ‘s overlapping runs in support and Xhaka inside him but it hasn’t really worked for him since the switch in personnel.
I expect Arteta to just persist with Martinelli, as he is pointlessly stubborn as pointed out in the article. This was Wenger’s downfall and will likely be his, too.
Your last paragraph made me think of how AW would sit next to Pat Rice and barely a word was said between them.
I look at Arteta who appears to be the opposite. He frequently speaks to his number 2 and other front bench coaches. Is he seeking advice, confirmation of his decisions or being stubborn as you suggest?
Those claiming Arteta is “stubborn” are basing this on their personal rigid views of how they think the game should be played.
It’s a ridiculous perspective which is repeated so often on certain forums that it’s become a factoid.
GJ can play from the right but it is not really his preferred position. It is not unreasonable to allow more time to see if GM can be an effective option from that side.
“He was very good a couple of seasons ago when he had Tierney ‘s overlapping runs in support and Xhaka inside him but it hasn’t really worked for him since the switch in personnel.”
Might be wrong, but I swear his good season was with xhaka and zinchenko, when arteta started using the inverted fullback and didn’t really trust Tierney in that system (Tierney was injured a lot at the same time, if I remember correctly) – so it wasn’t the overlapping runs that helped, it was maybe useful runs and support from xhaka?
Yup, it was (22/23) – martinelli scored 15 league goals but Tierney was relegated to backup that season. 6 league starts and a load off the bench. Just want to mention this because I heard it recently and it didn’t ring true – martinelli didn’t need Tierney’s overlapping runs. He played better for other reasons.
Yes, Davi, you’re quite right. My mistake! It’s a shame he hasn’t been able to replicate that kind of form again.
👍
It was Martinelli, Xhaka and Zinch not Tierney
Martinelli fall from grace is heartbreaking. Yes he was not gonna have a super efficient and clinical season like 22-23 every time but there is literally nothing of 22-23 Martinelli visible this season. No finishing, no dribbling, no intention to take on his defender nothing. Just run as fast to the byline and cross or rarely come inside take ages to sort out his feet and shoot wide.
With Saka out of minimum 3 months if Martinelli does not pick up form we are doomed. Our 1st 11 is strong enough to carry one out of form winger But not 2.
Martinelli is so disappointing. Lee Dixon was saying in commentary how Martinelli has gone backwards to what he saw two years ago. He said he was the best player in training but something now is a miss. He put in one half decent cross last night and that was really it. He ran head down as usual down blind alleys and so many times missed a pass to attacking players. Last night was a chance for him to blast on but he failed to spark. His intelligent levels are not upto scratch. I dont think he is much better than the other talented brain dead winger Traore.
How has he perform in the left wing and now we want him to deliver on the right wing. If we really want to win a major trophy this season sign a winger e.g johan bakayoko, a striker and an attacking mildfielder.
Has anyone knocking Martinelli, had the thought that he’s playing to the manager’s instructions?
I haven’t looked at his stats, but from what I witnessed, this demonizing of Martinelli is way over the top.
Seems we have two players being targeted for any problems – Havertz and Martinelli!!
Ken
People forget or conveniently forget players follow managers instructions. Blame Martinelli sure, but also blame manager for instructions and tactics.
He selects Martinelli because he carries out Arteta’s instructions and is the best defensive winger we have.
Thought Martinelli did, ok. Held on to the ball too long at times, sure but he was one of our few players willing to run with the ball and at least kept the Ipswich defenders on their toes. He also had to do the running for his left back which must have affected his energy levels. I’m sure Arteta saw it the same way.
At least one other person saw him in a positive light.
Saw the Odegaard stats by the way :
92 touches – 84% pass completion – 2 key passes – 0 successful crosses – 1 dribble success – possession lost 18 times…. it seems Martinelli lost possession 15 times and had five successful crosses.
Great article. Can’t wait to see martinelli leave and cuhna or nico williams in, Martineli can’t get better , he’s football iq is sadly low
Martinelli is young and he’s to me okay. The problem is the system, look, if both Saka and Martinelli are double marked why are we still passing the ball to the wingers?? If 4 defenders are marking 2 players, then we can easily penetrate in the centre. Lately you found that our players are not making runs instead they go to their team mate, who is in possession to collect the ball from his feet. All teams that we play against knows that we rely on the wingers and they are double marking our wingers, now we’re complaining about the performance of the Martinelli. What will you do knowing that you will be double marked and kicked in every game. Arteta must change his one sided system this is 2024 not 2023