Arsenal: 4 Gabriel Martinelli positives and negatives vs Leeds

4. A Mismatched Forward Line and an Unwilling Sead Kolasinac

If you ask any player who finds themselves on the periphery whether they’d rather get the nod as one of those in the more regular top-flight starting lineup or as part of the second string, every single one will favour the former.

Of course they would, they’d be playing with a better calibre of player who contribute individually as well as collectively. As was evident on Tuesday, the front three of Pepe, Gabi and Nketiah are not familiar with one another. This is three players who barely ever passed to one another, and left spaces so wide there was little room for combinations.

At the moment Martinelli doesn’t deserve to be starting Premier League matches. That Leeds performance confirmed why many others aren’t either. But when there are wholesale changes and obvious disconnect, it’s natural that players will struggle, especially in advanced areas. There is a reason his cameos in league matches have offered more promise.

Equally, the issue of being isolated also played a part. Martinelli isn’t excused for his performance by stating that Sead Kolasinac didn’t support him enough. It does offer a more balanced argument, however, as to why he made some decisions in possession that he did.

A run of games alongside Kieran Tierney – who his best performances for the club came in front of – Thomas Partey and Lacazette would produce a different result over time. It’s that simple. Yet nobody can be granted such freedoms without taking the chances presented to them.

The bottom line is that Gabi isn’t doing that at the minute. Bits and pieces here and there do not help, and wherever regular minutes may come from need to be sought out. Above all though, it must be remembered that he is only 20 years old, and has barely played football in a whole year: rare league outings and no youth action.

That, more than anything else, has to be taken into account.