Wolves 0-1 Arsenal: 4 positives from Premier League win

3. Gabriel Martinelli’s Red Card Not the Most Damaging

The debate over whether Gabriel Martinelli should have been sent off has been rumbling on ever since Michael Oliver flicked his right wrist for the second time.

Only with Arsenal do these event happen, prompting the usual response calling for a conspiracy or admitting that this team shoots itself in the foot. It’s arguably a bit of both: could Oliver book Martinelli twice if he didn’t know he was booked the first time, and does the reputation of this team precede itself?

Whichever side of the fence one sits on, the matter is over now and Martinelli will miss the upcoming game with Brentford. With the form he’s in he will be greatly missed.

But it could be worse.

Emile Smith Rowe will come into the team on his favoured left side and Arsenal will not be especially weakened. Smith Rowe is the top scorer at the club and it’s been a while since he’s had the chance to impress out on that side from the start when not carrying injury.

In terms of people in the squad, there could have been worse suspensions to deal with. And while Martinelli is still a loss, it opens the door for someone like Omari Hutchinson to get on the bench and Nicolas Pepe to impress in some capacity.

With a home game against Brentford coming up, again, it could have been worse.

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