He really needs to step up to increase our chances of winning the league/finishing ahead of those robots.

Let's face it, this guy is f*cking up our plan A right now. It appears to me we use our right side to build up/do all the creative stuff and then look to quickly release the player on the left, similar to how Leverkusen have their creative players on the left who often look to release the "runner" (Frimpong) on the right. I think this is how Mikel pictures our attack functioning but Martinelli's poor form has been forcing him to try something different with Trossard who, to be fair to him, has been delivering the goods, but we all know he doesn't represent plan A long-term.

We need to add that transitional element to our attack for this team to realise its full potential. I don't know what to expect of Sterling after his inconsistent showing for Chelsea but if he recaptures the form he had in the early part of last season, then this role represents a path to him nailing down a spot in the team if Martinelli's poor form/lack of confidence continues.

4 days later
15 days later

ive been johnny raincloud on martinelli for 2+ seasons. is anyone else willing to join me now? this guy isnt it, and until we upgrade his spot in the starting XI, we are going to pay for it

    Sicario2 - Tier 1 He hasn’t scored in 16 games. That’s Eddie Nketiah levels.

    ¯\_ (ツ) _/¯

      This has been the worry for me he had a great breakthrough but even then had limitations in his game. The last season and start of this he's lost the impact and the question is was that first season just a good run and not really his level. At the moment he's not looking like a great attacking player for us.

      I've backed him for a year, think this was the last straw. It's a bit hard to watch a handful of our very few presentable chances get wasted with regularity due to his funk. Time to snap out of it or move on.

      lorddulaarsenal he has to really once fully match fit. Martinelli just isn't doing offensively in a team that's lost a big portion of attacking firepower.

      It's a shame because you feel if he gets a single goal it might unleash him from this funk but I'm not sure we're in a position where we can just play him into form right now.

      • Tam replied to this.

          Goals are not even my primary worry. He’s now unwilling (capable) to take on players too. Seems completely lost on how to fashion a chance and for whatever reason he always brings the ball to his left foot which is near useless.

            DiabyKungFu He did, 6 I think, and was good overall vs Spurs but still managed to fuck up a 1 vs 1 with the keeper, he has more then 6 of those in a row for sure, well into double digits. His problem is a big one I think, you know, the long forgotten stat, scoring goals.

            The way Arteta has been with players, the guy is done if he doesn't start scoring, and soon. We looked for a big signing this summer as well for his position, it was just not there. It is make or break for him, if he continues like this he will back to the bench in no time and then we will bring in someone else and good luck to him getting back into the team.

              Arteta likes a broad range of attributes. Martinelli is working hard every game. He’s also getting on the ball much more this season than last season. Dribbling, cutting into the box, taking shots. One hopes it pays off soon

              That 15 goal season was the exception.

              Poor dribbling, head-down running, no vision or creativity, no composure.

              I always wonder how he would have developed in a Klopp-like system, freed from defensive work and only focused on using his speed and finishing ability - which actually used to be pretty good and that's the most disturbing bit. That he can't finish anymore, and the more it goes on the less likely that it's purely a confidence thing at this point

                Don Pacifico I think that's based on hope more than anything at this point. I'm on record as loving Martinelli and his chaos aura, but feel this season is make or break for him. He doesn't have the luxury of youth and naivety any more.

                Sterling is his biggest danger. Sterling won't be a long (or even possibly medium) term option, but he could show Arteta what he is missing in that position in terms of output.

                It'll be interesting to see how Sterling plays out. He's not got the legs of Martinelli or Saka so you'd think there will be a few tactical tweaks to accommodate that which we may not have seen yet from Arteta. I hope we end up with one or both wide players doing less running and staying higher as a result.

                We also need to fit Timber, Calafiori and Merino into that set up. I'm not convinced this team has the same peak as last season.

                  lorddulaarsenal yep only a matter of time. a top left winger will be a game changer for us, if we ever land one