Gabriel Martinelli. (Getty)
Charles Watts believes Mikel Arteta must drop Gabriel Martinelli from the Arsenal starting lineup.
The Lowdown: A slump in form
The Gunners may well be seeing their title aspirations fade away in front of their eyes as they’ve failed to win any of their last three Premier League fixtures including a damning defeat at home to Manchester City.
Arteta will certainly be concerned by this recent run of results and how some of his players have been performing of late with Gabriel lucky to not give away a penalty on Wednesday and for the sixth league game in a row, Martinelli failed to score or assist.
Martinelli has been one of the star performers for Arsenal this season and has been ‘deadly‘ alongside the likes of Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard, but he has started every league fixture this term so could well be desperate for a rest.
The Latest: Martinelli needs to be rotated
Watts was far from impressed by what he saw from Martinelli on Wednesday and has claims on his YouTube channel that Leandro Trossard should start ahead of the Brazilian this weekend.
He said: (11:40) “Martinelli as well, 4/10 I thought he really struggled and definitely needs to be brought out of the starting eleven this weekend. I think Trossard has to start this weekend to give Gabriel Martinelli a bit of a rest because he clearly needs it.”
The Verdict: Arteta could freshen things up
Even if Martinelli had put in a stunning performance against Man City during the week his place could well have been up for debate given how much football he’s played and that the Gunners are the early kick-off on Saturday so rest and recovery will be difficult.
Trossard was signed in January for moments such as this when regular first-team players were looking leggy and out of form as he’s proved this season with Brighton that he can step up and put a team on his back with big performances like the one away to Liverpool.
Who should start for Arsenal?
MartinellI!
Trossard!
Arteta must be brave and drop Martinelli this weekend because another stuttering display away to Aston Villa could well bring the curtain down on their title aspirations which looked so promising just a few weeks ago.
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