‘You have to’: Ian Wright says Mikel Arteta was frustrated with Arsenal player against Tottenham
Arsenal were without Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard for their north London derby showdown against Tottenham on Sunday.
Mikel Arteta‘s side secured a 1-0 win and proved why they had the best defence in the Premier League last season – conceding just 29 goals – because they defended for their lives in their enemy’s back yard.
Before the game, the talking point was how would Arsenal line up in the middle of the park, everyone knew Declan Rice was suspended, but who else would be missing?
Martin Odegaard’s injury on international duty was a problem, and as expected, he wasn’t even named in the matchday squad.
It was a very frantic, aggressive and typical north London derby showdown, with players getting booked left, right and centre.
Before Gabriel Magalhaes could open the scoring from a corner, Gabriel Martinelli probably had the best chance of the first half when he was put through on goal from the left channel, but his tame effort was comfortably saved by the Tottenham goalkeeper.
Martinelli has divided opinion this season and Ian Wright expressed his frustration towards the player again and at that missed chance.
The Arsenal legend was critical of how the struggling forward went about it all and even stated that Arteta himself was frustrated on the touchline, as he told Premier League Productions (15/09/24 at 2:55 pm).
Martinelli probably only started because Arteta had to shuffle his pack in midfield, with the Brazilian star going off in the second half for new summer signing Raheem Sterling.
Mikel Arteta frustrated with Gabriel Martinelli
“I think with the Martinelli one especially, (frustrating),” said Wright. “The way it’s going, at the minute, I like the way Arsenal are playing.
“In games like this, especially with the Martinelli chance, you have to get the goal in the bag, then as the time goes, you might get your chance. It looks like Udogie gets back in time. If the ball comes across, then Saka would have made it in front of him. I think Martinelli, in that instant, should be looking to get the goal. I would like to have seen him pass. The manager (is frustrated) as well, by the looks of it. “
Raheem Sterling’s signing
Arsenal signing Sterling from Chelsea on a loan deal was a huge talking point, with the ex-Manchester City man re-uniting with Arteta.
Given Martinelli’s mixed form, you worry that as soon as the England man gets comfortable, and it won’t take long, then he will be starting games sooner rather than later.
READ MORE: Paul Merson is baffled that ‘special’ Arsenal player doesn’t get the credit he deserves
If Martinelli thought that he had competition on his hands with Leandro Trossard, then he now has double trouble with Sterling.