Could the 22/23 season be the one where he really makes his mark?
Since breaking into the team during the Europa and EFL early in the 19/20 season - scoring 7 - there has been a lot of expectation and praise. He also added 3 goals in the Premier League, including a memorable one against Chelsea.
However, there has never been a sustained run of form from the Brazilian. His 20/21 season was ruined by a knee injury, then on his return he picked up an ankle injury. Added to this, Emile Smith Rowe was impressing on the left, the position preferred by Gabi. He scored just 2 in his second season, and there were claims the boss didn't fancy him as a player.
Last season started with Gabi in the starting XI, but poor performances in the opening 2 games (both individually and the team) saw him dropped. Gabi barely featured for a dozen games, but then started 19 of the remaining 24 games. Gabi ended with 6 goals and 7 assists.
Gabi made his debut for Brazil in March, and has played 2 World Cup qualifiers and a friendly - although all appearances came off the bench.
With it being a World Cup year (only 16 league games, 6 Europa and the EFL before then), Gabi will need to impress to book a place on the plane to Qatar. With the expected expanded squads he has a decent chance.
Up to now I think it is still potential and hope rather than anything more substantial. A lot of people blame Arteta, but I think Martinelli needs to do more on the pitch and hopefully this is the season he really starts impressing on a consistent basis. Now he has a fellow Brazilian in Marquinhos challenging for his place he has to work hard to cement that position. There is no doubting he could become a star player, and after celebrating his 21st yesterday, he does have time on the side.
Gabriel Martinelli
posted on 19/6/22
Hugely overrated when he plays. Not enough goals/assists. Even Pepe is more productive. Next season will be the same. Show some promise and then get a long term injury.
posted on 20/6/22
Kid has built a career off Kante falling over
posted on 20/6/22
Kante shiiit himself when he saw Gabi running at him, got him all twisted poor little chump.
posted on 20/6/22
Wonder if there's a system out there that could give Martinelli the freedom to largely operate up top (without defensive responsibility bar pressing) but to not be the sole CF.
At the moment you either need to be able and willing to defend as much as you attack from the wing or be a CF capable of operating with your back to goal and feeding others.
*I know Eddie got some goals but our overall play really suffered without Lacathreat being on form and playing more as a number 10 than a proper CF.
Martinelli's potentially able to occupy a similar position to Henry with obviously a BTEC skillset at present but the general attributes are there. What Henry had back when he first burst onto the scene though was very different players supporting him down the left and up front. I think he would've struggled badly in our current set up, at least until he became a truly world class player who could pretty much do everything!
posted on 20/6/22
comment by Randomer (U5245)
posted 9 hours, 58 minutes ago
Kid has built a career off Kante falling over
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I had to YouTube martinelli chelsea as didn’t know he’d scored against us.
Why is it a memorable goal? It’s just a league game no?
Anyway, I genuinely think martinelli is arsenals best player. Certainly most talented. Whenever I see arsenal he outshines saka. He’s more direct, quicker and has a better delivery into the box imo
posted on 20/6/22
comment by Two Balls, One Saka (U19684)
posted 58 minutes ago
Wonder if there's a system out there that could give Martinelli the freedom to largely operate up top (without defensive responsibility bar pressing) but to not be the sole CF.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------Jesus------------
Martinelli---------------Saka
----Vieira-----Odegaard----
----------- Partey ------------
Lisandro-Gab-White-Tomi
------------Rams------------
posted on 20/6/22
comment by Jenius99 (U4918)
posted 9 minutes ago
comment by Two Balls, One Saka (U19684)
posted 58 minutes ago
Wonder if there's a system out there that could give Martinelli the freedom to largely operate up top (without defensive responsibility bar pressing) but to not be the sole CF.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------Jesus------------
Martinelli---------------Saka
----Vieira-----Odegaard----
----------- Partey ------------
Lisandro-Gab-White-Tomi
------------Rams------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah possibly, I don't know anything about Viera so hard for me to picture how it could come together
Also it will obviously depend on the instructions from Arteta regardless of the formation or personnel!
posted on 20/6/22
Martinelli is a natural no.9. And Saka a natural no.10.
So ideally Saka drops in behind Jesus and Martinelli. With Vieira providing the width on the left when needed and Ode going wide right when needed. And also defending in those spaces so neither Saka nor Martinelli are needed to defend deeper.
Lisandro and Tomi are by nature CBs and CMs. So I don't see them in the attacking areas too often. Which means they stay deeper in midfield and cover Vieira and Ode.
This is as close as you are going to get to how City play imo.
posted on 20/6/22
comment by Nickasaurus (U9257)
posted 3 hours, 13 minutes ago
comment by Randomer (U5245)
posted 9 hours, 58 minutes ago
Kid has built a career off Kante falling over
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I had to YouTube martinelli chelsea as didn’t know he’d scored against us.
Why is it a memorable goal? It’s just a league game no?
Anyway, I genuinely think martinelli is arsenals best player. Certainly most talented. Whenever I see arsenal he outshines saka. He’s more direct, quicker and has a better delivery into the box imo
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Saka is more of an all rounder. He can go in and out and deliver quality crosses with both feet. If we had a good CF last season he'd have a few more assists. His shooting needs work, I often find he's quite flat footed.
Martinelli seems more of a goalscorer, but needs to work on his all round game.
I'm excited to see both of their development over the course of the next couple of seasons. If we don't sell them
posted on 20/6/22
There will be a riot if arsenal even consider selling Saka.