Arsenal: Gabriel Martinelli and Arteta disagreement ignores key reason

Arsenal have not seen much of Gabriel Martinelli since he returned from his lengthy injury lay-off, playing only 13 minutes of football since the beginning of February.

As such, Mikel Arteta has been accused of mishandling the Brazilian. Anger over his lack of involvement while the likes of Willian is given regular outings, has left what was supposed to be a smooth return to the first team rough around the edges.

Interviews are resurfacing from previous seasons in a bid to stir up a narrative that completely disregards the obvious fitness concerns that could severely hamper a 19-year-old’s progress to an even greater degree.

Gabriel Martinelli missed 30 matches having requiring surgery on his knee in 2020, and while he was brought back into the fold earlier than expected during the Gunners’ darkest spell under Arteta’s reign, further injuries set the forward back and he’s been an unused substitute in the last six Premier League matches.

https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1369589272119042050

Gabriel Martinelli and Mikel Arteta disagreement over positions ignores key Arsenal reason

This has prompted talk of a disagreement between the pair of where Martinelli is best suited to play.

"“[Aubameyang and Martinelli] are centre forwards,” Arteta said one year ago, while since, another interview with Martinelli has cropped up. “I really like playing on the left end,” Martinelli said last February. “It is my favourite position.”"

This has added fuel to arguments over whether Arteta is limiting the Brazilian’s playing time as he doesn’t see him suit the left-winger role.

Between the two, talks will obviously have taken place, likely every day, over how and where Arsenal can get the best out of Martinelli. Like seen in the first leg against Benfica, Arteta opted to field him at the central striker in the latter stages of the match as opposed to out wide. With a plethora of forward options to choose from, there is every chance he may merge into a full-time centre-forward.

After all, he shone there in cup competitions last year. So is this internal difference of opinion resulting in a lack of minutes? No, of course there is more.