Martin Keown says struggling Arsenal star is ‘in question’ for Man City clash

Martin Keown believes Gabriel Martinelli’s starting spot is ‘in question’ for Arsenal’s Premier League clash against Manchester City this weekend.

Arsenal kicked disconnected their Champions League run with a goalless gully against Atalanta connected Thursday evening and struggled to make galore clear-cut chances against past season’s Europa League winners.

Martinelli squandered Arsenal’s champion accidental successful the 2nd fractional and has present extended his tally to 17 games without a extremity oregon an assistance for the Gunners.

Arsenal are present preparing for their lucifer against City astatine the Etihad Stadium this Sunday and Keown feels Martinelli’s starting spot connected the near flank is nether threat.

‘[Martin] Odegaard is, without doubt, a large nonaccomplishment due to the fact that helium benignant of sets everything going,’ Keown told TNT Sports.

‘He runs retired into that pouch for [Bukayo] Saka, opens up the abstraction for him and tin provender him.

‘[Kai] Havertz was a small spot fixed tonight, wasn’t moving successful the aforesaid way, they tried to driblet him and out, I don’t deliberation that worked, you’ve got to person an retired and retired striker – possibly [Leandro] Trossard comes successful astatine the play to capable that role.

‘Although possibly Martinelli’s presumption is successful question, successful beforehand of extremity helium needs a small spot much composure, but I deliberation the manager volition instrumentality with him.’

Keown added: ‘It’s a learning process, you person to spell done that and larn arsenic a radical and you gully disconnected 1 another, you look astir the dressing room.

‘We were conscionable chatting determination to Declan [Rice] astir Martinelli – nary extremity successful 17 games now. Is helium going to dispersed that love, that enactment you need?’

Meanwhile, Rio Ferdinand believes Arsenal’s deficiency of attacking menace against Atalanta is simply a interest up of their clash with City this Sunday.

‘I deliberation that would beryllium my interest astatine the weekend, I deliberation the creativity, it’s thing you look astatine today, the manager said it successful his post-game comments, spot sloppy, shot retention wasn’t wherever it wanted to be,’ Ferdinand said.

‘And that volition person to improve, they’ll person to beryllium much objective and decisive erstwhile they get that 1 oregon 2 opportunities. Let’s look it, City aren’t going to springiness them 5 oregon six opportunities, I’ll beryllium amazed if they get that.

‘Today, Martinelli had a truly bully accidental and helium wasn’t composed enough. They are areas wherever they’ll person to cleanable up their enactment if they’re going to get thing against Man City.’

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