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Arsenal: 3 biggest surprises of the season thus far
By Josh Sippie
The Arsenal season is coming down the home stretch, so let’s talk about the three guys who have been the biggest surprises of the season thus far.
Arsenal‘s season has been up and down, and there’s still a long way to go as we round out what was shaping up to be the most disappointing season in decades. From this vantage point, with the season yet to finish, despite the disappointing season, the optimism hasn’t been this high in quite some time either.
Mikel Arteta‘s plan is working. The players believe like they didn’t under Unai Emery and, most importantly, the defense is shaping up into a formidable force like we could have never imagined.
Anytime there are this many highs and lows in a season, there are bound to be some surprises popping up throughout. I wanted to highlight the three biggest surprises of the season thus far. There may still be time for them to fade, but it’s not looking likely. These are three guys who have already made a much bigger impact than we could have imagined, as well as being primed to make an even bigger impact as the season winds down.
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These are three guys who I can’t wait to see what happens next. We start with No. 3.
3. Gabriel Martinelli
Signing a teenager from well outside the Big Five divisions rarely pays immediate dividends. Though if you look at Matteo Guendouzi, it’s not like it’s completely unheard of. And perhaps with how urgently Edu and Unai Emery went after Gabriel Martinelli, we should have seen it coming.
Then again, they clearly didn’t either, as he started off in the youth outfit, he didn’t cost a lot of money, and all things considered, we couldn’t have expected another Guendouzi. That never happens.
But it did. Gabriel Martinelli is as first team as they come. He’s done so many incredible things in his first year in the toughest all-around division, and it was all highlights by his near full-pitch run against Chelsea, ending in what appeared to be the easiest finish ever. (Spoiler: it wasn’t easy.)
While his presence has faded a wee bit under Mikel Arteta, the potential of what he can do has already been established. This is a young man to expect great things out of.
Moving on to No. 2.