Gabriel Martinelli made a vital contribution against Southampton on Saturday.
Arsenal were able to maintain their unbeaten start to this Premier League campaign with a 3-1 win over Southampton at the Emirates Stadium.
However, things weren’t entirely plain sailing for Mikel Arteta’s side against the Saints, as they had to mount a comeback in order to secure all three points.
Despite having dominated in the opening period, the North London outfit fell behind after half-time. Kai Havertz was able to maintain his home form by hitting back quickly, equalling a club record in the process.
Substitute Gabriel Martinelli then latched onto a Bukayo Saka cross at the back post to prod Arsenal ahead, having been on the pitch for less than ten minutes.
This goal meant that the Brazilian has now netted in back to back league outings. Prior to the first of these strikes, against Leicester City, the 23-year-old hadn’t scored for Arsenal since March.
Gabriel Martinelli moving with confidence
Martinelli took a gamble in attacking the far post as he did for his goal against Southampton, and it obviously paid off. However, it takes confidence to make such a move.
Arteta will have been delighted to have seen the Brazil international popping up in that part of the pitch, and he also did brilliantly well to control his first time finish. He trusted his technique to guide the ball past Aaron Ramsdale, rather than attempting to smash it beyond the former Arsenal goalkeeper.
Arsenal benefitting from instinctive Martinelli
Another example of Martinelli’s growing confidence was spotted by journalist James McNicholas in the Gunners’ recent Champions League victory over PSG.
Speaking in his On The Whistle YouTube video after Saturday’s win against the Saints, he recalled: “There have been signs that Martinelli is finding a bit of form. Obviously, he scored in the last league game.
“There was a moment against PSG where he hit a ball on the volley… He just took it early, it was near the penalty spot. That willingness to hit the ball early, to do things without thinking, is what has been absent from his game.”
Mikel Arteta deserves credit for keeping the faith
Martinelli has been criticised by Arsenal fans at times recently, yet Arteta has consistently kept him in the regular starting XI, clearly determined to give him every opportunity to play his way back into form.
This approach appears to now be paying dividends, and given how effective Martinelli has proven himself to be in the Premier League in the past, that suggests he could now go on to have a huge impact for Arsenal this season.
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