Arsenal plans for Gabriel Martinelli revealed after lack of minutes

Gabriel Martinelli has not started a Premier League fixture for Arsenal since the 0-0 draw with Manchester United in January. In the 2-1 win over Tottenham, he didn’t even make the bench.

Edging closer to his comeback from injury at a point where Arsenal were at their lowest, his return was seen to as the saving grace for a season that could only be rescued by individual brilliance.

Expressing his usual high octane self with constant pressing of the ball and leaving no stone unturned as far as lost causes were concerned, it very much felt like he was back.

Patience is a virtue and after seeing him pull up in the warm-up before the FA Cup win over Newcastle, Gabriel Martinelli got a taste of what it feels like to be human. He suffered his first long-term injury last season and despite all he recovery work, his body remained fragile.

https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1372203540144357378

Arsenal plans for Gabriel Martinelli revealed after Mikel Arteta continues to leave Brazilian out of matches

Thus, taking him out of the firing line and allowing him to rehabilitate further was the logical step. The occasional cameo followed by an eventual reintegration into the first team was a wise plan. Except that final part is yet to come.

Uproar across a fanbase over the Brazilian’s lack of involvement was ramped up when it was deemed that he couldn’t offer anything of value, even briefly, to the north London derby. But there is reason for Mikel Arteta’s handling of the 19-year-old: he’s nurturing him into a centre-forward.

As per football.london, Martinelli has been taking extra voluntary sessions to fine-tune his shooting, as Arteta envisages the forward merging into a striker in the long-term.

It’s no great surprise given how the second half of the season has panned out, nor is it a radical thought as Martinelli has played in that position not only for Ituano in the past, but also for Arsenal: he scored three goals in last season’s Europa League and four in the Carabao Cup from that position.

Speaking ahead of Thursday’s Europa League clash with Olympiacos, Arteta offered some insight into why the teenager has been absent:

"“No, if anything it’s my fault, he has done everything perfect, he trains incredibly well every day, his attitude cannot be any better, he is disappointed he is not playing more obviously and I have spoken to him, but he needs to be a little bit patient,” he explained."

All of which sounds rather familiar.

Mikel Arteta Following Pep Guardiola with Martinelli Patience

Phil Foden is quite exceptional. Alongside Mason Mount and Bukayo Saka, he stands out as the outstanding youngster in the Premier League.

His path to this point has been filled with groans and complaints. Supporters, not only of Manchester City but of other clubs, have longed for Foden to be granted more playing time. Pep Guardiola, the ultimate tinkerman, has been extremely gradual in integrating him into his side.

"“He plays football in the same rhythm, football must be need played in different rhythms: sometimes you have to walk, sometimes you have no rhythm, sometimes you have to change the rhythm,” Guardiola said of Foden. “There will be a moment when he slows down, it’s a normal process for all young players. You just stick have to stick with them and be patient.”"

Now he’s vying for a Team of the Season spot and a regular berth in the England starting lineup. He deserves both. But he, just like Martinelli, is young. Manage a prodigy such as these two accordingly and they will become world beaters. Coach them to the best of their abilities and the end result will be far greater than originally anticipated.

Is Arteta going one step too far by omitting him entirely from matchday squads? Perhaps so. However he sees Martinelli as a centre-forward in the longer term, and the method he’s adopting is the one he believes is best suited to unlocking that potential.

You can’t help but feel Martinelli can still add something to this side. His raw talent alone is capable of winning matches and few members are as infectious as him when it comes to raising the overall energy of the team.

Next season looks like being the campaign for him in a similar way to Thomas Partey, who we’re not going to see the very best of, possibly, until he’s had a full pre-season behind him. There is faith in the manager to manage this situation accordingly – he has learnt from the best after all – but maybe don’t keep leaving him out of matchday squads. Coaching or no coaching, he’s one of the best players in the team.