The Angel Gabriel (Martinelli): Page 107 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One more in the Tolly

The Angel Gabriel (Martinelli)

Big Willie Champ

Qwiss That was his only shot so it must be. I thought that was the right thing to do. Sometimes you have to force the issue and take some responsibility. It was a decent shot.

So it wasn't another shot? I saw absolutely nothing wrong with that attenpt, in fact I was hoping he hit the shot as he was moving towards the box. It was a decent shot and hit with a good amount power and height, and unfortunately not enough curve to get it away from the keeper. Not like he took a shot from quite a distance away from the box. It was just outside the box. I'm sure he scored from a similar position in an earlier CL game and it the far side top corner then. These are the kinds of shots we want our attackers taking more of, not less.

Sicario2

Burnwinter

Sicario2 Ugh. I did really feel that one. Both Madueke and Martinelli fucked up what should be relatively routine passing and control at this level right around this period of the match. Felt like Diaby and Gervinho rising out of retirement.

JazzG

Shades of that Liverpool 2-2 when he fucked up a simple pass to Saka right at the death. PSG in that position either score or at least work the keeper.

Burnwinter

The trouble with replacing Martinelli is that if it's just with a more mobile Trossard-ish youngster, that is, one with a bit more hunger and resolve for end product, we do still have to take on a "macro-tactical" readjustment due to Martinelli's role tracking back and providing width. If Calafiori could stay fit for 90% of a season I'd plan what we did at left wing about getting him more involved. Yıldız could be the answer ... he has a bit of physicality and running power from what I've seen.

Cannon

Was watching his goals from his first 3-4 seasons and they are some of best finishing i have seen. Guy was a monster. Timing, positioning and finishing like an elite forward. Love him as a player

Asterix

Love GabiMart as a squad player. Not sure we will find many better alternatives.

Burnwinter

Asterix Upgrading him has become a perennial problem. He has deficiencies but it's not as if Barcola (as an example) doesn't, he's fairly well known for his erratic finishing.

However, given Martinelli's contract is up and Trossard has benched him, I do think it's time to flip Gabi on the market if we can get a fee. It's far from the hardest decision we'll have to make to renew the squad.

CPM

He’s just not a winger. We don’t use him properly. I’d be wary of selling him at this point in his career. He is limited and not a first XI player for a top top team but has obvious qualities when he gets the ball in behind and in the box, and takes three touches or less. I feel less and less sure how to approach this summer’s transfers with our attackers, because it’s obvious Arteta needs some advice and needs to rethink things, and the fitness of our two best players from 22-24 in Saka and Ødegaard is in serious doubt.

Burnwinter

It's tough but we need to roll the dice and sell Martinelli while we still can. I get the argument "big clubs don't need to think about selling" … it's true we don't seem to need to sell anyone at this stage, but if we can eke some squad improvements out of selling, we should.

Let's say moving Martinelli on would be a hard decision.

There's also always:

Ødegaard: fuck knows who'll ever assist a goal for Arsenal if we sell
Nwaneri: probably goes on to win the Ballon d'Or at Chelsea
Eze: great to watch but I can't see him ever being a nailed-on starter
Madueke: quantum field of potentially elite traits that always collapses to shit when you're watching
Merino: just turned 30 but could be next season's top scorer or our future manager
White: love him but he's just too broken to keep on the books

We do need to shift out a couple of these players this window and Martinelli's gotta be near the top of the list.

QuincyAbeyie

Martinelli is a great squad player, but unfortunately all our left wingers are just that - squad players.

Claudius

QuincyAbeyie one of those squad players has pretty much been the best left winger in the tournament. And the other one just scored a well-taken goal to put his team into next round.
The difficulty with replacing these guys is that we do not have tons of candidates who are markedly better than both of them that we can easily acquire.

QuincyAbeyie

Claudius And the other one just scored a well-taken goal to put his team into next round.

I'm aware, that's why we're talking about him.

Whether Martinelli scores that goal or not doesn't at all change my opinion about whether I think he should be a starter for us next season - just like a player having a terrible WC wouldn't change my opinion the other way.

Qwiss

Claudius The difficulty with replacing these guys is that we do not have tons of candidates who are markedly better than both of them that we can easily acquire.

This is true. If we can get the right guy in, say Rogers or Barcola then move one of Trossard or Martinelli. We shouldn't move both in one window and we should only move if we get the right replacement. No point selling one and bringing in another Madueke.

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

You're both right.

Gurgen

Martinelli is good but we haven't played to our attacking players' strengths in about two years now.

Claudius

Gurgen hard to play to their strengths when opponents set up to prevent that.

Gurgen

Claudius also hard with a tedious slow build up like ours - even harder with your wingers playing right and left back.

Rohit

Martinelli I think stalled here and yet scored some very important goals. He might find another level elsewhere. He isn't a line hugging wide player for certain. Superbly taken goal against Japan, finding space, the touch with the left and then the finish.

Claudius

Gurgen we don’t have a tedious slow build up. We find ourselves with more territory than pretty much any club in the world. It’s hard to travel long distances quickly when you’re already at your destination.

Qwiss

Claudius yeah we play the highest line in the league. People who claim we sit back aren't dealing with reality.

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