Mikel Arteta appears to have done a U-turn on Gabriel Martinelli at Arsenal after his latest comments

With Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli being far from his best this season, he has been criticised by several pundits.

Paul Merson claimed Martinelli is “too predictable” and after a difficult last season, it is understandable why there is a sense of frustration surrounding the Brazilian international.

While Paul Scholes believes Martinelli has stagnated as a player after initially emerging as one of the hottest young prospects in world football a few years ago.

But ultimately, Mikel Arteta’s view remains the most important at Arsenal, who has handed the former Ituano wideman 26 starts in all competitions in the ongoing season.

Ahead of the Gunners’ upcoming clash against Newcastle United in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final, Arteta discussed Gabriel Martinelli.

Mikel Arteta said Gabriel Martinelli can play as a striker

Mikel Arteta thinks Martinelli can play as a striker when going over the different centre-forward options he has at his disposal apart from Kai Havertz and the injured Gabriel Jesus.

“We’re going to have to be very flexible in the front line.”

“And now the ones that we have and are fit, make sure that they stay fit and they keep contributing.”

“Leo [Trossard] can play in that position. Raheem [Sterling] has played in that position. Ethan [Nwaneri], I think, can play in that position. [Gabriel] Martinelli can play there. Let’s see in relation to how everybody is, moment, opponent, but at some point, I think we’re going to have to try something different.”

Martinelli is willing to step up in Bukayo Saka’s absence and if that means playing as a number nine, a position where he started his career at Arsenal under Unai Emery, he might end up doing so.

Mikel Arteta said he wouldn’t play Gabriel Martinelli as a striker in December

But Mikel Arteta’s comments were certainly surprising because just in December, the Spaniard admitted that he likes to play Martinelli as a winger instead of up top.

The 42-year-old said via Football.London: “He has played [as a striker] a few times. I think Gabi is so good when he’s got the line on his back and he’s facing forward and he has got the goal in the diagonal.”

“I haven’t thought too much about that. He’s so comfortable on the left side. I think I see other evolutions more than this one.”

But Martinelli, who career at Arsenal has stalled since perhaps last season has scored and assisted just 11 goals in total up until now as a wide forward — which springs a feeling of doubt about where his best position is.

Despite Mikel Arteta lauding Havertz’s work ethic, he perhaps might have to test Martinelli out as a striker to see whether he can rediscover his form.

Gabriel Martinelli’s stats as a striker

Interestingly, the 23-year-old has played as a centre-forward 16 times in his career.

Martinelli has managed to score nine goals in his appearances up front.

With that being the case, perhaps Mikel Arteta should test the much-maligned speedster as a striker.

Havertz is yet to truly convince as a number nine and perhaps more important, Martinelli certainly has the finishing and speed to potentially prove to be a very useful option up top.

Martinelli’s skill has been praised and if he can combine his shooting, technical ability and athleticism in the number nine role, defenders could have a hard time dealing with him.

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