Mikel Arteta has resisted the urge to sign a traditional striker for Arsenal, instead relying on the goalscoring prowess of his midfielders, including Martin Odegaard, Leandro Trossard, and Bukayo Saka. This strategy proved successful last season, as Arsenal narrowly missed out on the Premier League title to Manchester City, with Martinelli, Odegaard, and Saka all reaching double figures in terms of goals. However, Martinelli’s form has dipped this season, and Bent believes the 22-year-old has lost some of his effectiveness. Bent pointed to Martinelli’s goal tally, which has dropped from 15 in the previous campaign to just six so far this season, despite playing significantly more minutes. Bent also noted that Martinelli’s performances have been less electric than last season, and that his numbers have deserted him. The competition from Trossard, who has scored nine goals in 29 league matches this season, has further marginalized Martinelli, and it seems likely that Trossard will remain Arteta’s preferred choice on the flanks for the remainder of the campaign.
Martinelli’s Arsenal Form Slumps Amidst Competition from Trossard
