Arsenal legend Ian Wright has told Mikel Arteta that it is time to give Gabriel Martinelli his shot up-front following a series of disappointing displays from Alexandre Lacazette. The Gunners' top-four chances are hanging in the balance after back-to-back defeats to Crystal Palace and Brighton with just one goal mustered across both games.
Martin Odegaard's deflected strike came too late against the Seagulls to prevent Arteta's side from falling to a second defeat in the space of a week. A 4-0 victory for Tottenham against Aston Villa later in the day left them three points adrift of fourth and, despite still boasting a game in hand there is sense that Antonio Conte's side are in firm control.
A lack of attacking threat has been a big part of the Gunners recent downfall with Lacazette the target for much criticism. Club legend Wright has now told Arteta that it is time to listen to the demands of fans and give Martinelli his chance to play through the middle.
"We went through a phase where people were saying he’s [Lacazette] not scoring but he was linking the play and Martinelli, Smith Rowe and Saka were benefiting from him and doing their inverted runs in [behind]," he told the Arsecast. "But once that’s been figured out, and other building of play is happening, you still haven’t got your main striker in the places where he can make moves to get half chances to finish.
"When you’ve got a striker that’s not scoring - and he’s not scored for a long time now, I think he’s got four goals this season and two of them are penalties - even the opposition team know: 'Listen, we’ve got to make sure we stop the supply to [other players] because this guy won’t score'.
"He’s not scoring at the moment, and when I watch Alexandre, his runs towards the near post, his runs to the box, are not dynamic enough for him to beat somebody with a half yard so he can get in front of someone.
"Arsenal fans want to see Martinelli playing up-front now. Yes, Lacazette gives us some nice link-up play, but now people are finding that out. Sometimes when he goes over he’s not getting the fouls as well. So what’s happening is [opposition teams] are using the fact that Laca goes down, and the referees are kind of on to that, and they’re not giving the fouls where you want your centre-forward to hold it up and stop the play - but they’re not even giving us those fouls. So yes he does link up the play, but I would try Martinelli.
"I look at Gabriel Martinelli, that guy is f***ing trying man. He’s trying! We saw what he did against Liverpool, he’s such a threat."
