Arsenal must play Gabriel Martinelli – there is nothing to lose

Whatever the plans were for the Premier League this season they can be firmly put to bed. As far as Arsenal are concerned, domestic football is over for 2020/21.

Nine points adrift of Chelsea in fourth and with five teams in their way up until Tottenham in fifth, European qualification in any form is beyond their reach with eight fixtures left to play.

There are undoubted twists and turns to come, just like at Stamford Bridge and St James’ Park on Saturday, none of which are relevant, however, as Arsenal are an average team who create problems for themselves despite a favourable run-in until the end of the season.

Everton and Chelsea are the only two sides Mikel Arteta’s men will face who currently sit above them in the table, which are nothing more than side dishes to the Europa League showdowns that still have the potential to save the season.

Arsenal should play Gabriel Martinelli – there is nothing to lose as Mikel Arteta’s Premier League ambitions dissipate

Of course, Arteta will never give in on the league while there is still a mathematical chance, but with all the eggs in one rickety basket he needs to start putting his long-term project into action.

Gabriel Martinelli, brought back from injury and thrust straight into action against Everton, Chelsea and Brighton, is now consigned to the bench. This mercurial talent whose return was to signal the end of laborious forward movement and truly kick-start Arsenal’s season has been limited to fleeting cameos.

It’s since been revealed that this is part of a process – that word again – to mould Martinelli into a long-term centre-forward, having dabbled with the position throughout his young career, including at Arsenal. Presumably with an eye on what he can bring to the role next season, there is now little reason to fast-track that progress to now. There is nothing to lose, but much to gain.

Beyond being fielded as a striker, there is no reason not to play him at all.

Gabriel Martinelli Should Get His Chance for Arsenal

With Emile Smith Rowe yet to train and likely to be unavailable to face Slavia Prague, Martinelli should be considered to start in the Europa League. His energy and enthusiasm, as well as his technical ability able to help Arsenal build progressively in wide areas, is an asset, not a detraction.

He isn’t the half-space operator like Smith Rowe, but he adds enhanced close control coming in off the left, the like of which Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is struggling with.

As witnessed against Liverpool, although frequent in general, the need for someone on the left who can carry the ball through the thirds is essential and Aubameyang doesn’t has the skillset to do so.

While Arteta wants his full-backs to provide the width and his wide players to be the technical playmakers, the seeming lack of a natural left footer at left-back with Kieran Tierney’s injury hints towards a more right-sided attacking bias in the coming weeks.

But the point of where Martinelli plays becomes secondary. While the Europa League is the be-all and end-all now, he deserves his chance to play in the Premier League whether at centre-forward or otherwise.

Of course, if he’s being moulded into a striker then what better way to put that plan into action than in matches against Sheffield United, Fulham, Newcastle, West Brom, Crystal Palace and Brighton to come? Especially if ‘key’ players will be rested for European football.

Watch him excel, or otherwise (although there is little doubt), and it helps add clarity to the endless list of plans needed for the summer transfer window.

Play Martinelli. There is nothing to lose.