Gabriel Martinelli has a chance to seal his Arsenal fate this season.
Since racking up 15 goals and six assists in the 2022-23 campaign, he has not looked the same player.
Some argue that after that season, Mikel Arteta shifted away from the free flowing football that once brought out the best in the Brazilian, opting instead for a more possession based approach. Even so, given Martinelli’s technical ability and the fact that he has been at the club since 2019, he should by now have adapted to Arsenal’s evolving style. Is Martinelli a Scapegoat or Victim of Arteta’s system?
Whether he has or has not, it has now emerged that this is a make or break season.
According to the BBC, Arsenal, who resisted selling him in the summer and would only have done so at a profit, are hoping he can rediscover his brilliance this term.
Last chance saloon
Just as was the case against Manchester United and Liverpool, Martinelli looks set to be handed opportunities to prove himself.
Though he failed to impress in those outings, and with capable alternatives waiting in the wings, he will need to seize every opportunity with both hands.
Because if he does not, the BBC claims, “It is accepted that Martinelli is one of a few players in the Arsenal squad who the club could sell for a sizable fee following a summer of investment.”
Having splashed out heavily in the last window, Arsenal are expected to sanction some sales to balance the books.
Sacrifices were always on the cards, there was even talk of cashing in on Ben White, though he ultimately stayed.
Next summer, the pressure to offload a top talent will be real.
Time to step up
Alarm bells should be ringing in Martinelli’s camp. It is time he stepped up or risk being shipped out.
With the arrivals of Eberechi Eze at left central midfield and the rejuvenated left back options in Piero Hincapie and Riccardo Calafiori, the conditions are there for Martinelli to rediscover his mojo.
Thoughts on Martinelli? Should he be starting?
Daniel O
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Eze should start, allow Martinelli some time to find himself (confidence and ability), watch the game from the bench, and also take the pressure off him a bit.
Then hopefully there’ll be a rest on all these Martinelli articles…
@M&M
Thank you…👍🏾
Agreed👍
I personally think it’s a mixture of the two. In the season 2022/2023 he couldn’t put a foot wrong. But It’s no coincidence that his form has dipped since Arteta became more pragmatic in seasons 2023/2024 and 2024/2025.
Hopefully with the attack that’s now been assembled, when he gets his next chance he shows us the 2022/2023 version of the Martinelli that was so enjoyable to watch.
Martinelli is washed ….there are so many aspects of his game that are substandard…his biggest attributes were his pace and workrate but the team has outgrown him now…he simply wastes so many good situations…imo he has been given more than enough time to come good but unfortunately its time to move on for both the club and the player