Arsenal legend Alan Smith has claimed that Gabriel Martinelli could be utilised as a centre-forward in the second half of the season.
The Gunners allowed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to leave the club by mutual consent on transfer deadline day, meaning Mikel Arteta has Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette as the only recognised strikers at his disposal for the remainder of the campaign.
However, Smith has said that Martinelli could be the perfect solution, comparing the Brazilian youngster to icon Thierry Henry in the process.
Writing for Sky Sports, he said: "It might just be Martinelli's time.
"So far, he has been given a chance on the left and he has taken that chance. In order to be given an opportunity to play through the middle you have got to show you are in good form, you are fully fit and you are playing with confidence.
"He has done that so this could be a good time to move him inside.
"There is precedence there, famously Thierry Henry started on the wing and moved into the striker position to great effect.
"Arsenal's formation and forward line can be quite fluid as well with a lot of interchanging of positions with Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and Martin Odegaard so it's not like he will be positioned through the middle all the time.
"But it is certainly an option for Arteta and one he should not be afraid to have a look at.
"We have not seen enough of him through the middle yet and it is such a different challenge to playing out wide."
Martinelli has enjoyed a productive season so far in north London, notching four goals and two assists from just ten Premier League starts - a record that reads even more impressive when you consider he is still just 20 years old.
