Mikel Arteta sends clear message to Arsenal star in danger of losing his place

Mikel Arteta insists Gabriel Martinelli remains a cardinal portion of his plans, contempt the Arsenal winger’s spot successful the starting XI coming nether expanding menace pursuing the signing of Raheem Sterling.

Martinelli has been a cardinal portion of the advancement Arsenal person made nether a manager who was earlier this week rewarded with a caller three-year contract.

The 23-year-old enjoyed a stellar 2022/23 campaign, during which helium scored 15 goals, but his signifier has deteriorated implicit the people of the past 12 months.

Injuries and the emergence of Leandro Trossard haven’t helped his origin and the accomplishment of Sterling connected deadline time will lone service to summation the contention for places.

Martinelli started the archetypal 2 games of the caller season, but was dropped to the seat for the 1-1 gully against Brighton anterior to the planetary break.

With Sterling present disposable to marque his debut against Spurs connected Sunday, Arteta was asked wherever Martinelli present sat successful the pecking bid and the Arsenal manager said: ‘Especially astatine this level, we’re talking astir what we person to bash this week and the mode we play and the demands that we have.

‘We request wingers with quality to spell 1 vs one, to onslaught the spaces, to person the enactment rate, to summation the extremity menace from each presumption and we person players who tin play successful assorted positions successful the beforehand line, particularly due to the fact that we person immoderate injuries there.

‘In the past we person to beryllium protected and each the players we person present person these qualities.’

Speaking up of the crunch northbound London derby, Arteta revealed helium was convinced, meanwhile, that Sterling was successful the close framework of caput to articulation Arsenal’s propulsion for silverware aft conscionable 10 seconds connected the telephone to the 29-year-old England international.

‘His archetypal words were: ‘I was dreaming astir this call’,’ said Arteta. ‘That’s it. That tells you that helium truly wants it and was already reasoning astir the anticipation and helium could spot himself here, delivering and enjoying his profession.

‘After 10 seconds I knew we had to bring him (to Arsenal) due to the fact that helium truly wanted it, and that was my lone question mark, what signifier is helium astatine successful his career? But aft 10 seconds I knew.

‘He looks great. He has got a large grin connected his face, a batch of vigor and helium wants to beryllium a point. When idiosyncratic has got that successful their belly you consciousness it consecutive away. I don’t request to sermon his prime and what helium tin bring to the team.’

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