Gabriel Martinelli makes Arsenal statement of maturity

But a month ago you couldn’t make out where Gabriel Martinelli’s minutes were going to come from. Fast forward to mid-December and you can’t leave him out of the Arsenal team.

It was a landmark evening for the Brazilian against West Ham as his inclusion in the starting lineup marked the first time he had started in four consecutive Premier League matches.

He made every second of the 2-0 victory count.

Like a lit match in a bank vault, he was burning through the numbers: sprinting, tackling, pressing and challenging. The fire in his belly is one money can’t buy.

https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1471225235261296642

Magic Gabriel Martinelli makes an Arsenal statement with mature performance in 2-0 Premier League win over West Ham

Under difficult circumstances, the performance from Arsenal was one of the finest seen during Mikel Arteta’s reign. Coming up against a team who would set up in an entirely different manner from the previous outing against Southampton, the intent from the side from the off demonstrated the focus.

Few epitomised that quite like Martinelli. The manager has been reluctant to instill a high pressing system with more focus on counter-pressing under specific triggers, yet the approach on Wednesday was designed to be proactive instead of reactive. Fronted by Alexandre Lacazette, Martin Odegaard and Martinelli, the hunger to attack was as evident as the bit between the 20-year-old’s teeth.

Your eyes are drawn to him. He sucks you in with his energy and leaves you infatuated by his presence. Arteta said it best post-match, and it perfectly summarises the improvement in how he projects his exuberance on the pitch.

"“He’s able to put some gears into his play instead of doing everything 100 miles per hour,” he said."

It’s exactly that. Previously too intent on getting his head down and his name on the scoresheet, Martinelli’s performance against the Hammers saw no drop in vitality, but saw him harness it in a more measured and mature manner. There were bending runs and constant tracking back to recover possession blended with composure in situations where he knew waiting for reinforcements could sustain pressure instead of heading straight for the jugular.

The maturity aspect is crucial. That’s what he’s needed to inject into his game. While he kept his mileage up, he managed his tires like Formula One champion.

You wouldn’t go as far as to say this was a coming of age display, but to be handed the chance once again even with Smith Rowe fit and to keep his place in the team as Martin Odegaard made way instead was a credit to how he conducted himself.

Just like the onlooker, Arteta didn’t want him out of his gaze.

So, just a month on, with Smith Rowe suffering a minor knock and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang joining Nicolas Pepe in the wilderness, the opportunity that seemed beyond his reach has been cherished, nurtured and claimed as his own.

You can’t drop this level of talent. Martinelli is on an effervescent trajectory in a youthful team he belongs in.