At a Glance:
- Arsenal must offload Gabriel Martinelli.
- Martinelli’s poor stats against Atletico Madrid.
- The Arsenal winger held talks with Paris Saint-Germain.
Gabriel Martinelli’s fall from grace over the years was there for the world to witness in Arsenal’s latest 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid.
Considering Martinelli thrives against Spanish opposition, it was a surprise to see the Brazilian put in such a muted display at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.
In the second half in particular, one would have expected the 24-year-old to turn up as the contest became end-to-end, the kind of game that suits a counter-attacking player like him.
However, Martinelli’s excellent European record did not amount to much against Diego Simeone’s side and it is high-time the Gunners offload him.
Arsenal must offload Gabriel Martinelli as he struggles vs Atletico Madrid
Martinelli is having a tough season and since the 2022/2023 campaign where he scored 15 Premier League goals, the former Itauno winger has not quite been the same player.
The Gunners speedster’s struggles in the Spanish capital were symptomatic of his decline over the years, as he failed to take on Marcos Llorente, effect the game creatively or test Jan Oblak.
The statistics exemplify how poor Martinelli was in Arsenal’s latest outing against Atletico Madrid.
| Gabriel Martinelli vs Atletico Madrid | Statistics |
| Successful dribbles | 0 |
| Shots | 0 |
| Chances created | 0 |
| Dispossesed | 2 |
Arsenal’s number 11 did not complete a single dribble while taking no shots, creating no chances and being dispossessed twice during the contest.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, the in-form Eberechi Eze was lively, carried the ball wonderfully at times, played an incisive through ball for Leandro Trossard and almost won a penalty.
Considering Eze is a natural number 10 and is looking better out wide than Martinelli is telling of the latter’s deterioration as a player. While Martinelli has fared well as a super-sub this season, he does not bring much value to Arsenal as a starter as either a match-winner or in terms of being consistent.
| Eberechi Eze vs Atletico Madrid | Statistics |
| Chances created | 3 |
| Successful dribbles | 1/3 |
| Passes into the final third | 4 |
| Touches in opposition box | 3 |
With Mikel Arteta’s goal being to win silverware in the here and now, his side cannot carry the burden of perennial underperformers like Martinelli beyond this season.
Gabriel Martinelli has already held talks with PSG
Martinelli’s representatives spoke to PSG sporting director Luis Campos recently, which suggests he could depart the Emirates Stadium in the summer.
With Arsenal eyeing Anthony Gordon among a series of other left-wingers, perhaps the club realise that it may be time for them to part ways with the Brazilian international.
In the meantime, Mikel Arteta should bench Martinelli and start Eze against both Fulham and Atletico Madrid as the Englishman looks like he could emerge as Arsenal’s difference-maker currently.
