Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has insisted that Gabriel Martinelli will not leave the club before Monday’s transfer deadline.
The Gunners face Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday in what could be their toughest test of the season, and they will not be able to field their first choice attacking line due to Bukayo Saka’s calf injury.
There will be a top match at Anfeld later today, Sunday, where both Liverpool and Arsenal will take first place in the Premier League with a win.
Winger Noni Madueke could take his place on the right wing in attack, while newcomer Eberechi Eze could be placed on the left side by striker Viktor Gyokeres.
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That striker Martinelli is included in the starting line-up is by no means certain, especially after he was left on the bench when the Londoners beat Leeds United 5-0 at the Emirates on August 23.
Despite hints that the Brazilian could leave the club before the summer transfer window closes on Monday, Arteta claimed that the winger is still key in his plans, telling reporters: “No [he doesn’t want to leave]. Gabi has been a super important player for us and he’s going to be very, very, very important.”
“That we have options with different qualities, it will fulfill what we want, because each opponent will demand different things, and then the form, the moment, the way these players affect the game – that competition is necessary.”
Martinelli has been at Arsenal since 2018-19, scoring 40 goals and providing 20 assists in the league in 162 top-flight games for the club.
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Eze mainly played in a left-wing attacking midfield role during his time at Crystal Palace, and considering he is unlikely to take the place of Martin Odegaard, his most likely position in the team is on the left wing.
Martinelli has been Arteta’s first choice on that side of the pitch for a while, but it’s hard to see why Eze would have agreed to a move to the Emirates unless he was guaranteed playing time, especially since the World Cup is set to be held after the 2025-26 season.
The former Palace player is adept at operating between the lines, and he could pose a bigger threat in established play for the Gunners, which could benefit striker Gyokeres.
Although Eze is creative, he doesn’t have Martinelli’s speed, and the Brazilian is arguably the only real speed in the Arsenal squad.
Martinelli will still be useful against opponents who use a higher defensive line, as his speed will allow him to hang on at the end of passes and drag the Gunners up the field.
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Saka is considered the first choice on the right wing, but his presence means youngster Ethan Nwaneri is unlikely to get many minutes out on the wing.
While Nwaneri is comfortable operating as a number 10, teenager Max Dowman could have ambitions of playing regularly for the Londoners in the coming years.
Eze is almost certain to be the first choice on the left wing going forward, but it remains to be seen if Arteta can give enough starts to the likes of Martinelli and Madueke to keep the pair happy.
Gyokeres and Kai Havertz are expected to be used up top, although the former was bought this summer with the aim of making the nine-man spot his own.
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