Arsenal: 3 biggest surprises from disappointing return to action

2. Martinelli absence

I’ve been wracking my brain at length trying to think of what could be going on with Martinelli and the current Mikel Arteta set-up. 180 minutes down, so much opportunity for youth, particularly with the new five substitution rule.

And it has been ripe with opportunity. Arteta has been running with youth in a big way. Against Manchester City, he started Joe Willock, Bukayo Saka, and Eddie Nketiah. Meanwhile, against Brighton, he started Saka and subbed on Reiss Nelson, Nketiah, and Willock.

All the while, Gabriel Martinelli has been seated and completely unused. No report of an injury, no chance of a falling out give his positive demeanor all throughout.

If anything, I would have expected Martinelli to have been the premier focus on the return, at least from a youth standpoint. He’d been battling with Saka all throughout the season for which was the most impressive and thus far, it had been a stalemate.

Saka clearly has the upper hand now, if only because Martinelli is dealing with unseen forces.

Finally, some good news at No. 1.