Arsenal: 4 biggest positives from international break

3. Gabriel Martinelli Getting Key Coaching Time

Gabriel Martinelli is not playing very much for Arsenal, which also means he isn’t playing very much for Brazil.

While teammate and compatriot Gabriel earned his first senior call-up, a richly deserved one for the outstanding form he’s produced this season, such honours won’t bestow someone who’s been resigned to coming on for the final two minutes of Premier League matches.

Playing time is what he needs, and playing time is what he will get over the coming eight weeks.

Martinelli, of course, wasn’t the only player who didn’t jet off with his country, but with the reduced squad size inviting more youngsters in to train with the first team during this period, there will have also been more time for some one-on-one coaching with the 20-year-old, something he needs.

For rotational purposes he will already be urgently required during the festive period, and then following that when Aubameyang and Nicolas Pepe vacate the forward areas for AFCON, more chances will open up for him to gain regular involvement.

With Arteta, Steve Round and the rest of the coaching team, whether work could have been done on him playing at centre-forward or if more intricate tactical sessions were made to fine-tune his play on the left, the hope is that plenty of attention was given to Martinelli in preparation for what is to come.

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