Ian Wright makes interesting claim about Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli ahead of Man City clash

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Gabriel Martinelli has endured a tough year or so at Arsenal, the Brazilian has struggled with a few injuries and then not quite rediscovered his best form.

On his day, Martinelli has arguably been just as good as Bukayo Saka, however, it’s now been a while since we’ve seen the winger produce one of those displays at Arsenal.

During his time out of the team when injured, it seems as if the Brazilian has lost some confidence, and is perhaps overthinking things in the final third.

At his best, there was a rawness and fearlessness about Martinelli’s game – a winger who could go past any full-back in world football.

That’s not to say that he can’t return to those levels, Mikel Arteta is clearly invested in helping Martinelli to do so.

But as we saw in the North London derby, it isn’t quite clicking for the forward right now.

Gabriel Martinelli is strugging with the pressure at Arsenal

Speaking on the ‘Wrighty’s House’ podcast, Ian Wright took a moment to reflect on Martinelli’s situation right now, mentioning a moment from the derby when he went through on goal and didn’t square the ball to Saka.

Arteta looked furious with Maritnelli at the time – a forward who was seemingly trying to prove a point himself but attempting to go on his own and score.

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Wright sympathised with the predicament Martinelli is in right now, but made a plea ahead of facing Manchester City.

He said: “This is why Gabby, again his mindset at the moment for me is one of, because [Leandro] Trossard might, because Trossard’s gonna play and he doesn’t know if he’s gonna play, he feels like he has to prove something.

“He’s playing with that, I need to get my chance, I need to take it so people can say, yeah, we can’t forget Gabby.

“Whereas he’s just got to do what he does in getting past people, get the ball across, we score the goal – everything settles down and then we may be able to create something else.”

Wright later continued: “Going back to that Gabby chance, what Gabby maybe should have squared to Saka, I just want, if that happens next week, I just want him to understand, it’s a long season, we’re four games in, you know what I mean? You’ll get your goals.”

Raheem Sterling ready to spoil the party for Man City

Of course, it’s not just Trossard who might replace Martinelli were he to endure another spell on the sidelines.

Raheem Sterling is raring to go after joining on loan from Chelsea.

Sterling might start against Atalanta on Thursday – Arteta is expected to make as many as three changes for the game.

It would currently seem unlikely that Martinelli would be dropped for the trip to Manchester City regardless of Thursday’s outcome – the Brazilian is so important defensively.

But with home games to come in the Premier League against bottom-half opposition, perhaps Sterling will be pushing for his opportunity, another claim to Martinelli’s throne.