BREAKING NEWS: Coming live from Emirates, “sit him on bench that’s where he need to be now. This is a competition of Christ sake anyone off form should be dropped. I actually don’t think that Martinelli deserves to be playing, I think he’s living off his form from a couple of seasons ago. Trossard need to be starting every of our game. We’re talking about someone who is our best finisher, our most clinical finisher with his chances and someone who comes on and affects games,” arsenal legend sends Arteta warning on his preferred Martinelli over Trossard. According to reports, Wright believes Gabriel Martinelli is no longer worthy of a spot in Arsenal’s starting XI but trossard. He claims that Mikel Arteta considers the Brazilian only because of his past performances. “I think he’s living off his form from a couple of seasons ago” – Ian Wright says Arsenal star doesn’t ‘deserve to be playing’.
Football pundit Jay Bothroyd believes that Gabriel Martinelli no longer merits a place in Arsenal’s starting lineup, suggesting that Mikel Arteta only includes the Brazilian winger due to his past achievements. According to Bothroyd, Martinelli’s performances from previous seasons are the sole reason he’s still being considered, rather than his current form.
Arsenal has started the 2024-25 Premier League season on a strong note, securing 2-0 victories against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa. Despite being in the starting XI for both matches, Martinelli has yet to make a significant contribution, failing to register a goal or an assist. In contrast, Leandro Trossard, who replaced Martinelli in the second half against Villa, made an immediate impact by scoring within just two minutes of coming on, helping Arsenal secure all three points.
This contrast in performance has led to increased competition between Martinelli and Trossard for the left-wing position. However, Bothroyd argues that there isn’t much of a contest, as he feels Martinelli’s previous season’s form is what’s keeping him in the team. Reflecting on Martinelli’s earlier success, where he scored 15 goals in all competitions during the 2022-23 season, Bothroyd remarked that Martinelli is “living off his form from a couple of seasons ago” and “living off the name” he built back then. Last season, Martinelli managed six goals in 35 appearances, while Trossard, who joined Arsenal mid-season, scored 12 goals in 34 Premier League matches.
Adding to the criticism, Arsenal legend Ian Wright has also raised concerns about Martinelli’s place in the starting lineup. Wright warned that Martinelli could soon lose his spot to Trossard, whom he considers Arsenal’s best finisher. Wright praised Trossard’s performance against Aston Villa, noting his ability to consistently find the back of the net. While Wright acknowledged Martinelli’s speed and potential danger when in form, he emphasized that Trossard’s movement and understanding of the game make him a more effective option for the team. Wright said, “We’re talking about someone who is our best finisher, our most clinical finisher with his chances, and someone who comes on and affects games.”
He continued to highlight Trossard’s contributions, both in scoring and creating opportunities for his teammates. Wright suggested that Trossard has made a strong case for becoming a regular starter, questioning what more Trossard needs to do to secure his place in the starting XI. Arsenal currently sits third in the Premier League standings, level on points with Brighton & Hove Albion in second and Manchester City at the top. Their next challenge will be against Brighton on August 31, where the competition for starting positions will likely continue.
