Arsenal might have lost against Man City at the weekend but the reality is they had enough chances to win the game.
The Gunners actually created some big opportunities but couldn’t take them, while at the other end, Erling Haaland did what he does best to win the game for City.
Kai Havertz was among those to miss a good chance, while Gabriel also saw a header hit the post.
However, Jamie Carragher has suggested that it was indeed Gabriel Martinelli who blew the chance to make Arsenal champions.
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Jamie Carragher says Gabriel Martinelli could have won Arsenal the league
It’s a well-known problem that Arsenal face this season in that the forward players have not contributed enough in terms of goals.
Viktor Gyokeres has hit double figures but everyone else has struggled.
Indeed, according to Carragher on Monday Night Football, it was Martinelli who had the chance to make himself the hero.
“That tackle leads to Arsenal having a chance, at 1-1, to go 2-1 up. And that chance here, if that goes in, wins them the league,” Carragher said when discussing Arsenal’s pressing.
“If that goes in, the league’s won. So Martinelli is taking the chance to go and try and win Arsenal the league, it’s a great save and it doesn’t go in.
“Now, we look at the courage, look at the difference between Bernardo Silva and Rodri. Zubimendi, you’ve been brought in to take the ball, a European Champion, and that [long pass over the top] is not good enough. It’s just not good enough.
“Then, the press, you can see Odegaard comes forward, he’s pointing at Martinelli to go across, they get it wrong. But you’re taking risks pressing like that and ultimately, it leads to the goal.”
Gabriel Martinelli has to improve in these areas
The stats speak for themselves when it comes to Arsenal’s forwards not scoring enough goals and for someone like Gabi Martinelli, it’s so obvious where the improvement needs to come from.
The Brazilian has just one league goal all season and he has a pretty woeful shot conversion rate of just 3.8% for the season.
Couple that with his stats in Europe, where he has six goals and a conversion rate of 33%, then it shows you that the league is where Martinelli struggles.
Ultimately, for all his good work over the years at Arsenal, this stuff just has to improve. There’s no hiding place and the reality is that Martinelli will be replaced if he can’t step up.
This chance at City was a huge one. Yes, it was a good save. But in title-winning teams, big players take these chances and sadly, Martinelli failed yet again to convert.
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