September 20th 2024.
In Arsenal's recent match against Atalanta, Gabriel Martinelli missed a golden opportunity to secure a goal for his team. This has raised questions about his position in the starting lineup for their upcoming Premier League clash against Manchester City. The Gunners struggled to create many clear chances against the Europa League champions, and Martinelli's missed chance only added to their frustration.
Martinelli has now gone 17 games without scoring or assisting a goal for Arsenal, which has caused some concern among fans and pundits. As the team prepares for their match against City at the Etihad Stadium this weekend, former player Martin Keown believes Martinelli's spot on the left flank is in danger. Keown also mentioned the absence of Martin Odegaard, who is known for setting up plays and creating space for his teammates.
Keown believes that Odegaard's absence could have played a role in Martinelli's missed chance, as he usually opens up space for players like Bukayo Saka to make their moves. Keown also suggested that another player, possibly Leandro Trossard, may be given the opportunity to fill that role against City. However, he also acknowledged that manager Mikel Arteta may choose to stick with Martinelli, despite his lack of composure in front of goal.
As for Martinelli's leadership and impact on the team, former player Rio Ferdinand expressed some concern. He noted that Martinelli has gone 17 games without scoring, and questioned whether he can provide the necessary leadership and motivation for his teammates. This has raised doubts about Arsenal's attacking threat against City, as they will need to be more clinical and decisive with their chances.
Ferdinand also pointed out the importance of ball retention and creativity, which were lacking in Arsenal's performance against Atalanta. He believes that these areas will need to improve significantly if they want to stand a chance against a strong City side. With City unlikely to give them multiple opportunities, the Gunners will need to be at their best to secure a positive result.
In the end, it will be up to the players and the manager to address these concerns and make the necessary adjustments for their upcoming match. As they continue on in their Champions League campaign, they will need to work together and draw from each other's strengths. Only then can they hope to achieve success and continue to improve as a team.
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