0/2 dribbles, 0/4 duels, 7 passes: £48m Arsenal star was toothless vs Tottenham, needs upgrading
Arsenal succumbed to a 1-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur in Thursday’s friendly in Hong Kong.
The Gunners lacked the cutting edge in the final third with a solitary shot on target.
Gabriel Martinelli was one of the underperformers and barely made an impact in 68 minutes.
The Brazil international did not win any of his four duels and completed only seven passes.
He also failed to win any take-ons (0/2) and lost possession on five occasions.
Arsenal have completed three friendly games, and Martinelli’s form is an obvious concern.
Leandro Trossard has shown more promise, but he picked up a groin problem after coming on today.
The Belgian has also been linked with an exit this summer, but a move could depend on his fitness.
The left wing has been a problematic position for the Gunners for some time, and Arsenal definitely need an upgrade in the role heading into the new campaign.
Martinelli has gifted pace and can make direct runs when required. However, he has struggled when it comes to one-on-one duels and creating good chances.
Against Spurs, the £48 million-rated winger got into several positions on the left flank, only to lose possession heading into the opposition box.
Arsenal need someone better to start games. Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze could be the solution.
Eze has opened the door for a transfer, but a move could depend on whether Arsenal are willing to pay a major chunk (£35 million) of his £67.5m buy-out clause upfront.
The 27-year-old is in the prime of his career and would fit perfectly on the left wing. He is an attacking midfielder who can also operate from the left side of the attack.
Eze has a left-sided bias to his playing style. He won two dribbles per game last season. He could get behind defenders in tight spaces, which Martinelli has been inconsistent at doing.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com & Sofascore.com
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