The 23-year-old has been on a few rocky roads of late, but that form is changing and it has put a smile on the face of Ian Wright.
Many have been critical of Martinelli’s form and he has had to suck it up, take the verbal hits and get better.
But now the plaudits are coming the Brazilian’s way after he scored his first Premier League goal of the season during Arsenal’s 4-2 win over Leicester City at the weekend.
You could argue that Martinelli‘s change in form started during Arsenal‘s 2-2 draw at Manchester City a fortnight ago because he was outstanding before the tone of the game changed because of Leandro Trossard’s red card.
Wright certainly thinks one player in particular has helped transform Martinelli’s game and ‘activated’ Arsenal’s left side, like their right side.
The legendary striker pointed towards Riccardo Calafiori‘s arrival and how his presence is bringing the best out of the player.
Arsenal spent £42 million on the Italy international this summer and now Martinelli has that left-sided player he can ‘play off’.
“I think one of the things that has happened to Martinelli as well, what has really helped him with his form is Calafiori’s form for Arsenal, how he plays and how he frees him up.
“We need Gabriel Martinelli playing well for us with his pace, with his capability of getting into the box and scoring. It’s very difficult for him when he doesn’t have that left-sided player that can pop up around him and play with him. Somebody he can play off.
Like Saka plays off Odegaard, so he can get himself in the box and score the goal, which I am really pleased for, simply because people talk about ‘oh you need to sign a striker’. But Martinelli didn’t have a good season. Jesus didn’t have a good season. You can’t tell me that if they up their game a little, they are probably scoring, at least, five goals each and Arsenal then win the league. What I want from him is for him to get to this consistency, with the players that can activate our left side, like our right side is activated. Maybe Calafiori is the man who has done that for us.”
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