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Alan Smith has stated that Arsenal youngster Gabriel Martinelli will be “champing at the bit” to play in this weekend’s game.

The Gunners host Leeds Untied on Sunday in the Premier League.

Mikel Arteta’s side go into the the league fixture off the back of two consecutive defeats, while opponents Leeds have enjoyed a great return to the top-flight and are a point above them in the table.

Smith has singled out one Arsenal player that will be desperate to earn a recall to the XI.

Martinelli, 19, has been an unused substitute in the previous two league matches, with manager Arteta limiting his game time in the past month.

But the £90,000-a-week (Spotrac) attacker can inject some extra creativity, speed and flair in the final third if he gets a chance.

“Martinelli, I think, will be champing at the bit. He didn’t get on against Aston Villa. Arteta put Willian on instead, which a lot of Arsenal fans I know weren’t happy with,” Smith told Sky Sports Football.

TBR’s View:

Martinelli has had some horrid luck with injuries during his short career so far, but he’s been available for the past couple of months and is still trying to work his way into the plans of the manager.

The Brazilian teenager has obvious individual talent, scoring 10 goals in 33 first-team appearances at the Emirates Stadium,

Despite being fairly inexperienced, the left-winger can cause real problems when one-on-one defenders and has the versatility to play striker as well.