Dropped or rested, call it what you want, but ever since Gabriel Martinelli was left out of the Arsenal team just over two weeks ago he has been reborn.
Martinelli was named on the bench for Arsenal’s match at Aston Villa, but came on to score in stoppage time and complete a 4-2 comeback. The Brazilian has started all three of the next games since, taking his tally to four goals in as many matches.
Martinelli’s return to form is timely. He has reignited Arsenal’s title charge and now Mikel Arteta will be hoping the 21-year-old can have the same impact in the Europa League. Arsenal face Sporting here in the Portuguese capital this evening in the first leg of their last-16 tie, and Martinelli will have a key role.
Arteta is light on forward options, as Eddie Nketiah (ankle) and Leandro Trossard (groin) are both out. Gabriel Jesus trained yesterday, but he has not played since having knee surgery in December.
It leaves Martinelli as the prime candidate to lead the line. The Brazilian has excelled out wide this season and is Arsenal’s joint top scorer, with 11 goals. He has long been tipped as a future striker, though, and is happy to play there, even if it means the added pressure of being the team’s main source of goals.
“We play for Arsenal and I think everyone has this responsibility,” he said. “I am happy to play as a No9 or on the wing. It is up to Mikel. If I am on the team, I can play as a goalkeeper. I don’t mind.”
Sporting are well aware of the threat Martinelli will bring tonight. They are equally wary of Bukayo Saka, too, who also has 11 goals this season.
Saka is often the one who grabs the limelight over his fellow winger, and that is due to his consistency. Martinelli’s form tends to go in peaks and troughs, with the Brazilian admitting it helped him coming out of the team, even if only for one game. “Yeah, I think it did [benefit me],” he said. “I think it was good for me. In that game [against Aston Villa], I scored the fourth goal and I was so happy as well.”
Arteta insisted after that game he was resting and not dropping Martinelli, but either way the Spaniard’s decision has paid off. “He’s playing really well and you see that spark again in him that is very much needed,” said the head coach. “Sometimes a player needs a little rest to click again.”
Given Arsenal are five points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, there are some fans who would like Martinelli to have another rest tonight. Arteta, however, is expected to name a strong team.
Arsenal will want to put in a strong performance against a side who are fourth in the Portuguese top flight and 15 points off leaders Benfica. That would allow Arteta to rotate in the second leg at home next week.
Sporting’s usual set-up of a 3-4-3 formation should suit Arsenal, who will look to exploit any space left out wide. Former Arsenal right-back Hector Bellerin, who is on loan at Sporting from Barcelona, faces a tough night’s work.
Arsenal will try to dominate midfield by having an extra man in there. Sporting are also, crucially, without the suspended Manuel Ugarte, the only true holding player in the squad. “He is the one player who kicks people,” is how one Portuguese journalist put it bluntly.
It leaves locals here fearing Arsenal could run riot. Martinelli certainly looks in the mood to do just that.
