Gabriel Martinelli caused a heated debate among Arsenal fans after his Wolves performance

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In the absence of Martin Odegaard against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta decided to start with Ethan Nwaneri as his number 10.

Nwaneri was positioned slightly behind Kai Havertz for Arsenal and Gabriel Martinelli therefore kept his spot on the right.

Unfortunately, owing to Myles Lewis-Skelly’s controversial red card, Arteta deemed it necessary to sacrifice Nwaneri at the break, installing Riccardo Calafiori at left-back.

Of course, that turned out to be an inspired choice given that Calafiori won the game for Arsenal with another superb strike, his second for the Gunners this season.

And whilst Martinelli played an important role in that goal, cutting onto his left foot to cross from the right, fans on X were still divided regarding his performance.

Fans leap to Gabriel Martinelli’s defence after Wolves ‘negativity’

Put bluntly, Martinelli was criticised by some fans on X who continued the narrative of the Brazilian underwhelming for Arsenal, a player who is failing to reach his previous levels.

However, there were also a lot of Arsenal supporters hitting back at those comments, labelling criticism of the winger as ‘lazy’ and unfair.

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Criticising Martinelli, one fan wrote: “Martinelli is the most unimaginative winger in the league.

“His go-to is to cross or slow down and pass it to a midfielder or running into physical defenders.”

In a similar tone, another supporter ranted: “Martinelli used to be one of the best physical specimens in the Premier League now he can barely outpace 30yr olds. Complete disaster.”

It’s a familiar argument, and even Sol Campbell has noticed Martinelli’s decline of late.

However, even replying to some of the posts above, Arsenal fans were also defending their Brazilian winger, who was labelled as a ‘scapegoat’ by one supporter.

Replying to some Martinelli criticism, one fan questioned the need to add ‘negativity’ to the situation right now, saying it’s not helping anyone.

They wrote: “We don’t need this negativity right now. I’ve been very negative. That won’t help the situation. This squad is struggling bad already.”

Martinelli deserves better from Arsenal supporters

As one supporter mentions, it does seem entirely unnecessary to criticise Martinelli right now, especially after such a dogged win for Arteta’s side away from home.

Michael Oliver had made things hard enough for Arsenal, let alone any need to criticise a winger who was trying so hard to put his side in front.

It’s understandable that supporters in N5 are frustrated about the club’s lack of firepower up top right now, but that ill-feeling should be directly at the lack of investment up top – not those who are trying their best to improve things on the pitch.

Martinelli is improving at Arsenal, he’s slowly rekindling the kind of performances that all in north London fell in love with seasons ago.

And fans of the club need to stick behind Martinelli, who evidently has a huge role to play in the remainder of the season.