'Started to worry' - Ian Wright sends advice to Mikel Arteta over struggling Arsenal star
Ian Wright has weighed in on a form problem troubling one of Arsenal’s most important players.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been told how he can solve the Gabriel Martinelli problem. The Brazilian winger has struggled to be productive this season, scoring three and assisting as many in 17 appearances across all competitions.
Still only 23 years of age, Martinelli still has plenty of developing to do, and there are going to be dips in his form, but the lack of production means Arteta is getting to the point where he may need to drop Martinelli again, even if the winger did get a goal last time out.
Martinelli is struggling to stay effective and dangerous across a whole game, and Arteta has said himself that he needs wingers who are going to test opposing full-backs. "We need wingers with ability to go one vs one,” said the Arsenal boss in September. “To attack the spaces, to have the work rate, to increase the goal threat from every position and we have players who can play in various positions in the front line, especially because we have some injuries there. In the past, we have to be protected and all the players we have here have these qualities."
Arsenal have little margin for error at this stage, already nine points off leaders Liverpool, and scoring three goals in their last four league games has not helped their cause. Neither Saka or Martinelli have been particularly consistent.
Wright on fixing the Martinelli issue
Arsenal legend Ian Wright has noticed Martinelli’s dip in form, and he believes it could be down to who is playing behind him. He said on the Kelly and Wrighty Show: “The thing before the injury and when Calafiori came in we saw how he activated Martinelli. People started to worry about him. Fans were getting a bit frustrated. I started to feel for him.
“When Calafiori is playing he actually activates him better, he can come inside, Calafiori goes outside, he can play off him. We all know that on Odegaard and Saka’s side, when that is working, that’s what they do.”
Calafiori has been out for the last couple of weeks due to injury, but the Italian will be hoping - and is indeed expected - to return after the international break. Arteta will be hoping his return helps unlock Martinelli again, with Arteta relying heavily on his winger’s to create chances, particularly with no out-and-out goalscorer between them.