Arsenal centre-forward decision: Gabriel Martinelli or Aubameyang?

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had a shocker against Olympiacos. Nothing about his performance was worth praising apart from his ability to pick up the right positions to create chances, and even then Arsenal were left to rue poor finishing. Gabriel Martinelli came on and outdid him. In quick time.

Mikel Arteta’s handling of Gabriel Martinelli has caused unrest with supporters, but the desire to mould him into a centre-forward long-term is a decision few disagree on – he scored three goals in last season’s Europa League and four in the Carabao Cup from that position.

A drive unmatched by most across Europe, he has all the attributes one could ask for in a striker: his movement is dynamic, his work-rate exemplary, he’s technically sound with both feet, a lethal finisher and, crucially, strong in the air. There are no great disagreements on the vision.

What is being questioned is the need to leave him out. Only so much learning can be done at the training ground before it has to be honed on the pitch. His ability is plain to see, as witnessed once more on his Europa League cameo, so perhaps it’s time to put it into practice.

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Should Arsenal play Gabriel Martinelli or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at centre-forward for Sunday’s Premier League clash with West Ham?

And what better time than when the regular centre-forward has had a stinker? Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s weak display surfaced issues of his mental fragility. While all was settled behind the scenes, there were evidently some lasting effects of the decision to drop him for tardiness.

Thus, with West Ham to come on Sunday and two contrasting options to lead the line, Martinelli is ahead of the pecking order in most peoples’ thinking. For good reason.

However, after one weak performance – it isn’t his only one this season, admittedly – having the captain line up on the bench risks further damage. Aubameyang has been a magnificent servant to the club with the sheer volume of goals he’s scored. A confidence player, take that away and what good he may do for the rest of the season could be hampered.

He will have a big say in the final run-in, as he will next season. Arsenal will need him if they are to secure Europa League glory. And, after all, he isn’t suddenly a poor player overnight. He has incredible value in this side still.

Martinelli may play some part against the Hammers, he should. Putting him in at centre-forward though, a craft he is still mastering, under these circumstances, goes against the plan Arteta is putting in place.

Unless Arteta wants to rotate, then making this swap is not the wisest.