Arsenal: Gabriel Martinelli and Arteta disagreement ignores key reason

The Main Reason Gabriel Martinelli isn’t Playing for Arsenal

Beyond tactics and formations, a healthy dose of patience is urged. It’s needed.

After five months out injured with the first major setback in a short career, Martinelli then started against Manchester City, Chelsea and Brighton. These were fixtures where his energy was a valuable asset after the dire stretch of form, and his inclusion was somewhat forced to provide a lift. Something had to give.

Following those matches, he got a rest against West Brom and then fell foul to injury against Newcastle during the warm-up of the FA Cup clash.

Ever since that occurred he’s been managed carefully by Arteta, who is easing him back into the fold. It’s wise.

Martinelli was superb last season in his breakthrough campaign, which understandably heightened the calls for his immediate return to the starting lineup. But he’s only 19 years old. He has his whole career ahead of him and managing his fitness and development has taken centre stage since the twisted ankle pre-Newcastle.

"“He’s a player that is going to give us a lot but he needs some time,” Arteta said in early March. “We need to find the right games for him and the right connections for him on the pitch to do what he can do best.”"

Patience must be heeded with the young players in the squad, just as they were with Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka – the latter not playing any of the final three rounds of the FA Cup run last season and starting on the bench in two of the first three Premier League matches this season.

He’s being nurtured and yes, sure, where he is best suited may be a topic conversation, and if it is at centre-forward there is no dislodging Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in current form, while Nicolas Pepe has a strong case to be starting ahead of him on the left.

When Arsenal are winning there is no mention of Martinelli’s name, yet if results don’t follow, it becomes the knee-jerk response to call out.

Seeing what happened to Thomas Partey already this season, lessons have been learnt in regards to player fitness. Martinelli’s time will come, and he’ll be as good, if not better, than supporters remember.