Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal: 8 young talents to look out for vs AFC Wimbledon

By Ross Kennerley

SWINDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 07: Charlie Patino of Arsenal looks on during the Papa John's Trophy match between Swindon Town and Arsenal U21 at County Ground on September 07, 2021 in Swindon, England. (Photo by Alex Burstow/Getty Images)
SWINDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 07: Charlie Patino of Arsenal looks on during the Papa John's Trophy match between Swindon Town and Arsenal U21 at County Ground on September 07, 2021 in Swindon, England. (Photo by Alex Burstow/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, Gabi
BURNLEY, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 18: Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Burnley and Arsenal at Turf Moor on September 18, 2021 in Burnley, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images) /

7. Gabriel Martinelli

Age: 20
Position: Winger/striker

How does Gabriel Martinelli fit in this season? The answer is, sadly, fleetingly.

The Premier League starting lineup is cemented in, at least in regards to the forwards, with the next in line to take up one of the wide berths after Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe being Nicolas Pepe.

At striker it’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reinforced by Alexandre Lacazette, leaving Martinelli to make do with substitute appearances and he hasn’t even managed those barring 14 minutes in the previous EFL Cup outing.

As a player who is extremely valuable to have on the bench in league outings, and who will get his chances across a long season, these are fixtures where he has to get meaningful minutes in order to keep up his competitive level when the Premier League comes calling.

Given the amount of strikers at the club battling it out for time on the pitch, his involvement will come from wide areas where, in this writer’s opinion, is his best position.

No less than 70-75 minutes. Martinelli has to be playing football. He’s too good not to be.

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