No, you have not stumbled across a political blog. I am not going into a rant about the left-wing politics in the UK and our clubs association with Jeremy Corbyn. This is all about Arsenal’s left hand side.
The Martinelli problem
We are are only two games in, so do not think that this is a pile-on. Gabriel Martinelli was poor last season and he has not started 2024/25 in great form.
Mikel Arteta keeps moving Arsenal forward by buying better players that what he has. And right now the left wing is a position you look at and think “we can do better”. And I say that with a heavy heart.
Martinelli is a fantastic player. I love his story and he can be very proud as to how far he has come in football in a very short amount of time. But he has not kicked on from an excellent 2022/23 season.
With 15 goals and 5 assists in the 2022/23 Premier League season, Martinelli was an exciting young talent who looked ready to become a global superstar. But instead of kicking on in 2023/24, he scored just 6 goals and got 4 assists.
Now it is not all his fault.
Arsenal are extremely right hand side dominant, with much of our attacking play coming down the right flank with that Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka double up.
With Granit Xhaka gone, and Oleksandr Zinchenko playing an inverted role, Martinelli is often isolated on the left hand side.
He does not have a full back wrapping around the outside, nor does he have a midfielder to play quick one twos off. That leaves Martinelli having to do everything himself, and often not having a quick “get out pass” that Saka has.
Whenever Saka is on the ball, he always has easy passes on with either Ben White or Odegaard. If he finds himself down a blind alley, he can easily recycle the ball, retain possession and restart play. Martinelli often does not have that option which results in him either losing possession or trying to play a difficult pass.
But the change of tactics can not be an excuse for Martinelli. He needs to adapt or die.
On that left hand side, we need someone who is a “one on one merchant”. Someone who is comfortable being the only attacker, often in plenty of space, who will look to take his fullback on for fun. It feels like Martinelli has gone backwards when it comes to taking on an opponent.
Martinelli still has the potential and ability to step up and remain as Arsenal’s first choice midfielder, but he needs to up his level in the same way Saka did a couple of years ago.
Turning 24 at the end of next season, if he continues his current level he might have to accept being a squad player at Arsenal rather than a starter.
What about Trossard?
The lack of celebration after his opener against Aston Villa was apparently Leandro Trossard making it clear that he was unhappy on the bench.
Players should be upset about being on the bench. They should use this as motivation and work harder in training, forcing their way into the team. But also Trossard has to understand football is a squad game, that we are two games into the new season, and there are plenty of minutes to go around.
Last season, Martinelli started 24 league games, Trossard started 18. The Belgium playing around 300 minutes less over the season than the Brazilian. So he really should not be too upset about a lack of playing time.
After the goal, the usual “Trossard must start next game” was said by many. But it is not something I agree with.
Trossard always looks best when coming off the bench. He thrives when games are less structured. When he can play off his natural instincts rather than to a game plan.
He looks an inferior player when he starts games, with our structured play often breaking down or slowing up when the ball gets to him. He is so much better doing what he did on Saturday – finding space around the edge of the box and getting a shot off.
Not blessed with a lot of space, Trossard takes advantage of tired minds. When he starts, when defenders are both sharp in body and mind, he is not as effective.
So short term, Martinelli should still be our main starter, with Trossard acting as a super sub.
A new left winger
All summer we have been linked with Nico Williams. And I would not be upset if we signed him this summer.
Williams is the sort of one on one merchant that would excel in Arsenal’s current way of playing. He will destroy his full back for fun throughout and create so many opportunities for himself and others. But if he is not available, then we need to stick with Martinelli for another year.
Any winger that comes in needs to be better than Martinelli. They need to come into our first XI and be able to make an impact. And if that means another year with Martinelli whilst we scout his long term replacement, then so be it. It also gives Martinelli the chance to make that next step forward.
But what for Martinelli
This summer a lot of fans have spoken about getting in cover for Bukayo Saka. I do not agree with that.
We have been linked with Ademola Lookman, and I do not think he is better than Saka, Martinelli or Trossard. The new winger needs to be better than Martinelli.
Signing a Nico Williams level player would then see Martinelli relegated to the bench. But as we have seen with Trossard, there is plenty of game time to go around.
I can certainly forsee a situation where Williams plays 65 minutes, and then Martinelli comes on for the last half an hour. His freshness and pressing will destroy a tired full back.
Martinelli would also become Saka’s cover. So in one transfer, we would have improved our starting XI, and strengthened our squad depth.
I also think that we will see Gabriel Jesus depart in 12 months.
Right now Jesus plays a trio of roles for Arsenal – he is cover for Kai Havertz, and provides an option on the left and right hand side.
Either this summer or next a new striker will come in, and with Jesus and Eddie Nketiah gone, Martinelli will be the 3rd choice striker, as well as 2nd choice on both wings.
And Trossard?
Maybe the reason for Trossard’s lack of celebration is that we are on the verge of signing a new left winger this summer. And that man incoming will relegate Trossard to 4th choice on the wings.
If Trossard is unhappy being a squad player, then I have no issue us cashing in on him if his sacrifice means we get a Nico Williams. But I would prefer it if he stayed.
Trossard would be a good option on either wing, and still be a super-sub option. He would also have a role to play more centrally.
You can see a situation where after 70 minutes we are struggling to break down our opponents. On comes Martinelli replacing the left winger, and on come Leandro Trossard replacing Mikel Merino (or whoever is playing in that left hand side attacking position).
Trossard could also be Martin Odegaard’s cover on the right side of midfield, whilst covering Saka as another option.
He turns 30 in December, but as someone who has never relied on electric pace will still have a few years left at the top. Trossard is the player some think Emile Smith Rowe is. He is also a superior player to Fabio Vieira.
Sign a new starting left winger, Trossard will still get plenty of game time.
When fans talk about us needing a new striker, I often change the narrative to us needing a new attacker.
For me, there are more wide forwards that would improve us than strikers – I am thinking Nico Williams, Rafael Leao and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. All three would be an upgrade on Martinelli and are more gettable than Victor Oshmein. They would also be better value and improve us more than the likes of Ivan Toney or Viktor Gykokeres.
Over the next two summers, I expect us to sign a new left winger and new striker. Depending on what order we sign them now depends on Gabriel Jesus’s latest injury, and who is out on the market.
A final thought: Whilst Jesus’s injury might lead us to go sign a striker, it would need to be the right man. I would actually prefer us to go and get Williams, and Martinelli becomes Havertz cover (until Jesus is fit).
Keenos
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon 