How Martinelli could become the next victim of ruthless Arteta at Arsenal

Suraj Radia

• 5 May 2024 11:00 BST
• 4 min read

Much has been made about the future of Gabriel Jesus at Arsenal but perhaps a bigger issue for Mikel Arteta could be the decline in form of another Brazilian, with Gabriel Martinelli extending his barren run in front of goal at a pivotal stage for the Gunners.

While the 3-0 win over Bournemouth was Arsenal’s fourth win in a row, with 13 goals scored in the process, Martinelli has netted just four times in his last 24 games across all competitions, with no goal contributions in his last ten appearances, eight of which have been off the bench.

The 22-year-old has not started a Premier League game since the beginning of March and has endured a difficult campaign after his 15-goal season last year, with Arsenal desperately missing Martinelli’s potency despite being the division’s top scorers.

EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal make Sesko priority target Newcastle set to deny Gunners Isak

Indeed, with little margin for error in the championship race against Manchester City, the Gunners would undoubtedly have blitzed their way to the title if Martinelli and Jesus performed anywhere near their levels last season, with the latter having netted just four Premier League goals this year.

Martinelli’s age and status as a homegrown player means he is unlikely to ever be considered as a candidate to be sold in the near future but the forward’s underwhelming season has given Arsenal a conundrum on whether they can rely on the Brazil international as a starter next year.

The priority in the summer for Arteta is likely to be a striker and a backup to Bukayo Saka and, although Leandro Trossard has impressed at left wing in recent weeks, the need for a consistent goalscorer is proving more apparent for Arsenal as they face another potential year of narrowly missing out on the Premier League title.

Arteta's search for consistent goalscorer could leave Martinelli stranded

Saka is Arsenal’s top goalscorer this season but the right winger’s 16 goals only make him the joint-seventh top scorer in the Premier League, leaving the Gunners without a pure focal point in front of goal.

Although the likes of Kai Havertz, Trossard and Martin Odegaard have stepped up to share the scoring responsibility, strikers Jesus and Eddie Nketiah have combined for just nine goals this season, adding to the disappointing total of Martinelli.

It is perhaps no surprise that the Gunners will consider moves for players such as Benjamin Sesko, Viktor Gyokeres or the Premier League’s second-highest scorer in Alexander Isak this summer, with Arteta clearly identifying the need for a designated goal getter.

READ MORE: 10 players who could join Arsenal this summer

However, Martinelli’s position as an inverted left winger is also one with immense competition in world football and Arteta has not been afraid to make difficult decisions over stars, such as replacing Aaron Ramsdale despite the goalkeeper being named in last season's PFA Team of the Year.

Martinelli will be given opportunities to recapture his best form but Arteta will undoubtedly want to operate with ruthlessness to avoid showing any weakness in future title races, meaning the Arsenal wonderkid will need to prove his credentials once again or risk being left behind.