Plenty of Arsenal fans have urged Mikel Arteta to start Gabriel Martneilli against Manchester United on New Year’s Day, providing he is fully fit.
The Brazilian forward has missed the first two games under Arteta with a hamstring issue, with the Gunners drawing with Bournemouth and losing to Chelsea.
The teenager was touch and go to feature against the Blues on Sunday, and will hopefully make the matchday squad against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side.
And following the defeat against Chelsea on Sunday, these Arsenal fans took to social media to make some early United team selection demands, urging the Spaniard to replace Alexandre Lacazette with Martinelli.
Twitter: Martinelli/Auba/Nelson should be the front 3 vs United ngl (@KJftbl)
Twitter: If Martinelli is fit, he HAS to start over Laca against United since Pepe is most likely still going to be on the bench. (@___fm10)
Lacazette has to be dropped for United he seems to be given a free pass to do whatever he wants and seems undroppable. All I want to see against United is a front 4 of Ozil, Martinelli, Aubameyang and Pepe
— Sam (@iwobiflick17) December 29, 2019
Twitter: Martinelli better start against United (@HarryyBoyle)
Twitter: Auba was actually good on the wing today . Would like to try Martinelli in the middle against United (@TacticoKT)
Read Arsenal verdict
Martinelli has been one of a few shining lights for the Gunners this season, and if fully fit, should probably start at the Emirates.
The 18-year-old has netted eight times in all competitions compared to Lacazette’s six and his tireless work rate could cause United’s defence issues.
If Arteta does select Martinelli from the off, he’d then have to choose who starts out wide and who occupies the central role between the South American and club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
