December 10th 2024.
Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, had high hopes for his young forward, Gabriel Martinelli. The Brazilian player had an outstanding season in 2022/23, scoring 15 goals and providing five assists, helping his team come close to winning the Premier League title. Arteta even compared Martinelli to a Liverpool legend, which was quite a compliment.
However, now, a season and a half later, Martinelli seems to have lost his touch. The 23-year-old looks like a different player, lacking the speed and energy that used to make him a nightmare for opposing defenders. He has only managed to score three goals in 13 appearances this season, and he is no longer a guaranteed starter. Another player, Leandro Trossard, is now competing for the spot on the left wing.
Martinelli's recent form has been disappointing, as seen in Arsenal's 1-1 draw against Fulham. He was accused of making a "criminal" mistake when he was caught offside in the build-up to what could have been a winning goal by Bukayo Saka. Rio Ferdinand, a former Manchester United player, expressed his confusion about Martinelli's decline on his YouTube channel. He recalled a conversation with Arteta a few years ago, where the manager praised Martinelli's potential and even compared him to Luis Suarez. Ferdinand was surprised because he had only seen glimpses of Martinelli's talent back then. However, now, the young player seems to have slowed down.
Arsenal's missed opportunity to close the gap with Liverpool in the recent game against Fulham left Arteta feeling frustrated. The manager was disappointed that his team couldn't secure the three points, despite dominating the game from start to finish. He acknowledged the small margins that can make a big difference in a game, and he knows that his team needs to improve in certain areas. However, he also praised his team's performance and determination, saying that he hadn't seen any other team play the way they did against Fulham.
Despite the disappointment, Arteta remains optimistic and believes that his team can bounce back in their next game. He knows that they have the quality and the desire to win, and he is confident that they will continue to improve and achieve their goals. The disallowed goal at the end of the game was emotionally tough for the team, but they will use it as motivation to come back stronger.
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