What has become a benefit of Arsenal having so much quality in a number of positions has also created a problem regarding the competition for places and the struggle to ensure everyone worthy of game time is getting it.
Gabriel Martinelli has made the left flank his own and has become one of the first names on the Arsenal team-sheet thanks to his energy and goalscoring threat.
This has however had a negative knock-on effect on Emile Smith-Rowe whose game time has diminished in the wake of the Brazilian’s breakthrough. Besides the 0-0 home draw to Burnley with Arsenal down to the bare bones, the 21-year-old hadn’t started a league game since the 3-2 away loss to Manchester United at the start of December.
