Mikel Arteta will learn whether his Arsenal side can compete for the Premier League title this season when they travel to Liverpool.
The Gunners have enjoyed an impressive start to the Premier League campaign, beginning with a hard-fought victory against Manchester United and followed by a comprehensive 5-0 victory over Leeds United.
Jurrien Timber was Man of the Match at the Emirates last time out, whereas summer signing Viktor Gyokeres got the mark in the league with a brace.
However, Arsenal did not escape unscathed from their near-perfect performance after Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard sustained injuries on Saturday.
Bukayo Saka of Arsenal consoles Martin Odegaard of Arsenal as he is substituted off during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Leeds United
Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images
And now, Arteta is facing a selection dilemma ahead of his trip to Anfield, but one player, who was dropped for the win against Leeds, could be the perfect solution to all the Spaniard’s problems.
Gabriel Martinelli enjoys playing against Liverpool
Indeed, the injuries sustained to two key starters is a massive blow for Arteta – Saka is one of the best wingers in the world on his day, and Odegaard is influential from the middle of the pitch.
The general consensus among the Arsenal faithful is for £68 million signing Eberechi Eze to occupy the left flank, with Ethan Nwaneri operating in the number 10 position and Noni Madueke taking Saka’s place on the right side of the attack.
Meanwhile, Gabriel Martinelli is being drastically overlooked as an option to start the match at Anfield, and the stats show that Arteta would be foolish to leave out the forward.
Gabriel Martinelli vs Liverpool Total
Appearances 12
Goals 6
Assists 2
Statistics provided by Transfermarkt.
TBR Football reported that Bayern Munich were interested in Martinelli earlier this summer, but the Bundesliga champions opted to sign Luis Diaz after Arsenal quoted £75 million for the Brazilian.
Thierry Henry dubbed Martinelli as ‘outstanding’ following his display against Real Madrid in the Champions League last season – despite his uncertain future at the Emirates, he is still highly thought of.
And considering the Gunners have not won at Anfield in the league since 2012, the upcoming trip could be the perfect opportunity for Martinelli to remind Arteta and the supporters of his unwavering talent.
Gabriel Martinelli is disrespected at Arsenal
Admittedly, Martinelli’s contributions have declined since his breakout campaign during the 2022/23 season, but he still has a lot to offer Arsenal.
The 24-year-old recorded 15 goals and five assists in 36 outings that year but has since failed to surpass double digits in goals scored throughout the past two years.
Danny Simpson claimed Arsenal will not win the Premier League if Martinelli is a regular starter at the Emirates.
Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal looks dejected during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Crystal Palace
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
However, Martinelli has stepped up on the big occasions for Arsenal more often than not, and although it is still early in the season, the result at Anfield will provide a clear indication of the Gunners’ title credentials.
Arteta has some crucial decisions to make regarding his squad in the coming days, and he would be wise not to listen to outside noise and focus on the facts at hand – Martinelli has a track record of performing well against Liverpool.