Gabriel Martinelli is once again available as an attacking option for Mikel Arteta at Arsenal following his return from injury. The Brazilian’s absence had limited Arsenal’s attacking choices, forcing the manager to make tactical adjustments, including deploying Mikel Merino in a more advanced role.
During Martinelli’s spell on the sidelines, Arteta continued to use Merino as a false nine, adapting the team’s attacking setup to compensate for the lack of options. Meanwhile, Ethan Nwaneri was sacrificed from the starting line-up to accommodate Martinelli’s return. The Brazilian, alongside Leandro Trossard, now provides Arsenal with width and attacking threat from both flanks, offering the team a more dynamic presence in the final third.
Martinelli has primarily featured as a winger throughout his time at Arsenal, but his versatility means he could also be utilised in the number nine role. With his pace, technical ability, and finishing skills, he has the attributes required to succeed as a central striker. Given Arsenal’s need for more goal-scoring options, it would not be surprising to see Arteta experiment with Martinelli leading the line.
As reported, Merino recently ended a short goal drought by finding the net against Chelsea, and he has shown improvement in adapting to a more attacking role. His contributions have been valuable, and he certainly deserves to keep his place in the squad. However, with Martinelli now fit, Arsenal have another capable option to consider in the central role.
Although Merino has been working on his game to become a more effective striker, Martinelli’s natural attacking instincts and experience in forward positions may make him the more suitable choice. If Arteta opts to play Martinelli as a striker in the upcoming matches, it could provide Arsenal with a different attacking dimension while allowing Merino to return to his more familiar midfield role.
Additionally, giving Martinelli a chance in the central position would free up space for Nwaneri to receive more game time on the right wing. The youngster has shown promise and, based on his performances, deserves the opportunity to continue his development in the first team.
Ultimately, Martinelli’s return from injury presents Arteta with crucial tactical decisions. His versatility gives Arsenal flexibility in attack, and whether he plays out wide or through the middle, he is expected to play an important role in the team’s push for success this season.
ADMIN COMMENT
So here are some simple rules which I must insist commenters follow….
You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.
Well it’s worth a try playing him there. At least with him being an attacker, he should at least be more of a threat than Merino is overall.
Although that said, Merino has scored the winners in a few games to be fare.
Well, he’s been tried there briefly before with no great success. In general of course his speed can’t be fully utilized at the #9 but that may be o.k. in the right circumstances. Given his imo generally ineffective offensive play on either wing over the last few seasons, the biggest downside in most games would be that he could not continue to effectively assist in defense on the wings.
The imminent (hopefully) of Saka will make Arteta to rethink his forward line tactics and personnel along the line you have suggested
But I would prefer Trossard as a “false nine” and Martinelli on the left
Arteta had used that formation before with some reasonable degree of fruitfulness
Surely Merino is a plan B … I get that Arteta is trying to protect what forwards we have left but we need to play attackers in those positions
Then use Merino later on in the game when defenders are tiring and perhaps cant jump as well hence corners and crosses would be more effective
Otherwise we are a bit slow and ponderous
And for all those who have been constantly berating Havertz look at our results since he has been out !!!!
If we need goals from open play,the player most likely to give us that is Declan Rice.
Move Skelly into midfield to partner Partey then play either Calafiori or Tierney at L.b.
Merino can be the plan b because he is Artetas favourite but for the sake of the team,I believe Declan would do a better job.
My forward line is( Martinelli Rice Saka)
Pace Energy and precision.
Kai’s still our top scorer.
Yes Jax.Unfortunately Kai is injured till next season and life has to go on.
Cliff, yeah, that was my point. A player injured for weeks and out for the season is currently our leading scorer and could even end the season as such.
I would just be happy getting him back to his best on the left wing.
Merino is not ideal at centre forward but could be just the job against RM where he will be often needed to drop deep to help out the midfield.
imo, Martinelli and Saka helping out defensively will be crucial against RM.
I don’t think that is a great idea.
First,we need to ask ourselves what a centre forward does in Arteta’s system.
The first thing that comes to mind is the ability to win aerial duels,particularly from goal kicks. Not Martinelli’s strong suit.
Secondly,he is required to link up with teammates,sometimes dropping into midfield to get on the ball. Should be a decent passer to do this. I’m not convinced by Martinelli’s passing in midfield and around the box.
The CF is also required to press the goalkeeper/Centre backs when we don’t have the ball. This is where he can probably do better than Merino.
Finally and most importantly, the CF should position himself in the box to finish off chances. Martinelli has not shown the composure to finish chances for a while now.
At the moment,I think Merino ticks off the most boxes and should keep his spot.
Martinelli is more useful on the wings with his pace. Pace doesn’t mean much in central areas particularly against stubborn defences because you just end up running into bodies.
P.S. With the return of Martinelli, I would consider getting Ethan some minutes in Odegaard’s position from time to time or starting him on the right and playing Martinelli on the left in place of Trossard who also needs some rest.
Normally striker don’t have two left feet. He can not head a ball and would be better taking a conversation in rugby than a shot at goal. So no, silly idea.
Reggie,
I believe you meant conversion in rugby. OOPS!😉👍
Bloody predicted text🤣
Reggie,
🤣👍
Sadly,Martinelli has not developed into the well rounded forward I had hoped for.Part of the problem is that he is probably the principal victim of the inverted left back set up which Arteta seems to demand as part of his possession obsession.No one carries out his defensive duties more diligently than Martinelli but on the few occasions he finds himself in one on one situations he seems to have lost the confidence to take on his opponent and invariably recycles the ball.Whether he could achieve more as a central striker , I know not, as Arteta does not seem inclined to give him an opportunity to show he can become a “solution”.
spot on.
Couldn’t agree more Grandad. I guess our perfect player would include Martinelli’s running and Trossard’s finishing. As it is both have serious flaws in their game. Still I’d prefer either to that nothing player, Merino.
Martinelli centre forward versus low block opponents = definitely not, not good in tight spaces, not clinical, no aerial ability
Martinelli centre forward versus open attacking opponents = well maybe, pace in space is his number 1 weapon
and strangely Real Madrid may be the perfect example, i.e. a possession based attacking team that will push high and front 3 who often don’t track back – Martinelli using his pace to run in to space on a quick counter
so in the transition phase Martinelli switching centrally has a logic
think Liverpool, who have a much better defence than Real, Martinelli has worried Liverpool many times because he can utilise his pace in the space
but against lower half PL low block merchants Martinelli has been largely ineffective, centre forward even less effective
btw – yes Martinelli has not developed his game to be successful against the new reality of the low block, he was OK against Chelsea because Chelsea are possession based and don’t play the low block, and even then he played the same game he did 2 or 3 years ago, also his finishing not improved at all – this is what people mean by not developed his game
I think Martinelli presents the most ‘instinctive’ player perhaps alongside Trossard when it comes to being in the right place at the right time but he lacks many of the other assets required to play a central striker role.
Therefore, I think with who we currently have available he is best used on the rightwing just getting the ball in the box for Merino to challenge. I’d like to see Tierney down the left with a similar instruction.
Of course, if Martinelli were to play in a front 2 with Merino, then I think that would work as they then fulfill all the criteria needed in a front duo, but MA is never going to do that.
Thesedays Martinelli is not good in the flanks. Let him test himself as a 9. No pressure for him playing there since he is considered a make shift striker. Trossard and Martinelli have lots of experiences at club and national levels but Arsenal fans did NOT see the fruits of that esp this season. Nwaneri much much better!
With Saka back i think our most potent forward 3 would be him alongside Trossard and Martinelli…with the former playing as a false 9…all in all i think Martinelli is the perfect example of why we seem to just be good but not quite good enough to be the best..he plays football with his head down and is very predictable…shoots when passing is a better option …and his shooting is way below par…in short the guy has awful decision-making skills….of all the players in our first 11 he is the weakest link and the one I’d like to see replaced by a better player…..
Merino isn’t much of a goal threat, but cannot argue with 4 in 7 games. Brilliant save from Sanchez, which would have given Merino 5 goals. No way Martinelli is posting those numbers.
He’ll be more of a threat with his pace, but his end product is poor, whereas Merino is clinical if given the chance.
Also, Martinelli does so much defensive work for the team, that I’d continue with him on the right, and bring Nwanerie off the bench.
trossard is better suited to a false 9 or proper 9 than martinelli. trossard played as a 9 even in the presence of havertz. he knows better the role of a decoy player if he plays false 9 and invites fouls from defenders in compact areas. marinelli loves wider spaces and prefers to use his good pace. i know goals are scored from trossard’s wide area low crosses but martinelli makes better crosses. while at brighton trossard used to playing in the middle. martinelli by trade is a flank runner even with brazil. all this unwanted scenario was imposed on the team obviously due to lack of recruitment. esp in January.
after an hour or so Arsenal Women v Real Madrid. Quarter finals. Champions League. At 6000 capacity Madrid Women stadium. Good luck GUNNERS! How things sometimes happen in life as both men and women share identical opponents both at QFs to tackle. Kelly to shine!
That means destiny is at play. Our women win, our men will win..
We lack options at #9 but we really can’t be talking about the same Martinelli that we all watch. Yes we lack options upfront, and I once agreed that Martinelli could be our 9 during the Emery era. But after a while you could see that Martinelli could never fit those boots. We could try him, coz we lack options but if we are really honest, it will not work ut for him. Especially with the way we play
I have been asking for this for so long!
He is an attacker, faster and has a better understanding of that role than Merino, “who did a lot so far!”
Now, we will have Saka back and Nwaneri playing on the same side. We can use one on the left side [copy Barca style by playing Raphinha on the left while keeping Yamal on the right]. Keep Trossard on the bench to get ready for the second half!