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Arsenal: Dean Jones hints at Mikel Arteta playing Gabriel Martinelli as a striker
Dean Jones believes that Mikel Arteta could soon deploy Gabriel Martinelli through the middle for Arsenal.
The Lowdown: Arteta now has options
Since the injury to Gabriel Jesus, Arteta has had to select a front three of Martinelli, Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah, which has brought about huge success, putting the Gunners top of the table.
However, the pressure may now be getting to the latter, with Nketiah having netted just twice in his last seven league fixtures, so it’s no surprise that has coincided with the Gunners’ stuttering run of form.
Arteta does now have Leandro Trossard to call upon, with the Belgian starting for the first time last weekend before being replaced by Martinelli, who ended up creating the chance leading to Emiliano Martinez’s own-goal and scoring at the end of the game. However, Jones believes the two of them could still start together.
The Latest: Martinelli could play as a striker
Given Nketiah’s recent struggles in front of goal, Jones has claimed on the Chasing Green Arrows YouTube channel that Arteta could soon experiment with Martinelli as a striker.
He said: “I think he’s running out of steam in this team, and I’m starting to wonder if they look at rotating the side now. Is there any possibility – I mean, this is just something I’m putting out there because I’ve heard that it’s not impossible that Arsenal do try this – of them playing Martinelli up top?”
The Verdict: Martinelli’s versatility could be key
Playing Martinelli through the middle certainly wouldn’t be alien to the Brazilian, as he’s played there 14 times during his career (as per Transfermarkt), although it clearly isn’t his natural position, so it would be a risk for Arteta.
However, if Nketiah fails to find the form that he was showing earlier in the season, Arteta may feel he has no choice but to switch things up until Jesus returns from his cruel mid-season injury.
Who do you want to start as striker?
Nketiah!
Martinelli!
Something that is clear, though, is that Martinelli needs to be on the pitch as much as possible for the Gunners, as he’s got 10 goal involvements in the league, and his match-winning cameo against Aston Villa was ‘vital‘ according to Charles Watts.
