Gabriel Martinelli set for new Arsenal role after 'unbelievable' impact | OneFootball

Brazilian could be used differently as Mikel Arteta targets evolution

Gabriel Martinelli may start when Arsenal head to Port Vale on Wednesday, but there is an argument that his best role going forward could be as one of Mikel Arteta’s fabled ‘finishers’.

The Brazilian came off the bench to score twice in six days, with his equaliser against Manchester City on Sunday arriving in the 93rd minute.

“The game’s opened up, it’s more stretched. And for players like Gabi, they’re unbelievable when they do start, but when they come on, their strength, which is their pace, their dribbling, helps them massively because there’s so much space.”

Martinelli rescured a 1-1 draw for Arsenal against Manchester City

Getty Images

Arteta has always placed great importance on the role of substitutes. A few years ago, he referred to them as ‘impacters’ - a term also used by the All Blacks.

Rugby has once again been the source of Arteta’s latest phrase, ‘finishers’, with Eddie Jones using the same term when managing England. Jones’ argument was that players not in the starting team felt less disappointed and more motivated, because selection was based around who suited the beginning of a match and the end of it.

In conversations with his players this season, Arteta has explained how the ‘finishers’ could be even more important than the starters given the depth and quality the squad now possesses.

Who the ‘finishers’ are will depend on the opponent, but Martinelli feels like the perfect one for most games.

Given his searing pace, it is hard to think of a player more suited to the final stages of a match when bodies and minds are tiring.

Any opposing full-back who has just spent an hour or so trying to stop Eberechi Eze will surely curse their luck when they see Martinelli coming on fresh.

The statistics underline the sense that Martinelli thrives late in games, with half of his last 10 Arsenal goals coming in the 60th minute or later.

Martinelli also scored off the bench against Athletic Club in the Champions League

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

They have often been decisive and the 24-year-old boasts a remarkable record of never losing a game for Arsenal when he finds the net.

Martinelli has scored his 53 goals across 47 matches for Arsenal, and those games have produced 38 wins and nine draws for the Gunners.

“It’s unbelievable,” said Arteta, after Sunday’s draw with Manchester City.

Martinelli has never made much of the record, and that is very much in keeping with his character.

Those at Arsenal describe him as humble but hungry, a player whose solution to dips in form has always been to work harder.

Away from football he leads a quiet life, often relaxing with family and friends.

Martinelli has grown up at Arsenal, arriving as a teenager who could not speak English. Goalkeeper Emi Martinez helped him with the language and encouraged him to come out of his shell. When Arsenal faced Aston Villa last season, the pair swapped shirts.

Martinelli is set to be given a start against Port Vale in the Carabao Cup

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Martinelli has matured since then, but one thing remains the same - his explosive pace.

It was the quality Arsenal first noticed when they scouted him, but his finishing stood out, too. That composure strengthens the case for him as an ideal finisher, and growing up he played as a No9 in futsal.

He believes the long-term benefit is that he learned to think quickly and control the ball in tight spaces.

Martinelli’s finish against City is rightly lauded, but it was his initial burst away from the chasing defender, and a deft touch, that enabled him to score.

A winger by trade, Martinelli has thrived in central areas and both of his goals last week came there.

It has led some to argue a stint as a striker could be worth a try, especially with Kai Havertz out injured.

Port Vale may be the chance for Arteta to trial it and, if Martinelli can add that string to his bow, he could evolve into Arsenal’s ultimate ‘finisher’.