Wilshere names ‘brilliant’ Arsenal youngster he really likes

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Jack Wilshere has told Arsenal’s official website that Gabriel Martinelli has been brilliant for Arsenal of late, and lauded the way Mikel Arteta has used the forward this season.

Martinelli has been a fan favourite throughout his time at the Emirates. However, it has certainly proved to be a turbulent spell for the forward.

He was outstanding during his first few months in the side. But then, injury struck and he missed the large majority of the first-half of the 2020/21 season. He only made seven league starts upon his return in that campaign.

Once again, Arteta resisted the temptation to make Martinelli a regular starter at the start of this season. But he is now a key component of the team. And he has now scored four league goals and contributed two assists.

Wilshere lauded Martinelli and his recent form for Arsenal. But he also praised Arteta for the way the 20-year-old has developed in recent months.

“The one who I really like and think he’s going to be top, is Martinelli,” he told the Arsenal website. “I think what the manager has done with him has been genius as well. 

“When I first went there he was training, coming on, not playing much, but training really well and I was thinking, ‘He’s going to get a chance here’ and he eventually got his chance and he’s been brilliant.”

Arteta does deserve credit for way he has used Martinelli for Arsenal

Arteta has come in for a lot of criticism during his time as Arsenal boss. And in truth, he continues to have a major point to prove. He is yet to show that he is definitely the one to take the Gunners forward.

But the way he has helped Martinelli come on at Arsenal does deserve credit. There have been plenty of times, when the Gunners have been struggling, when fans have implored Arteta to use Martinelli more.

He has held off for much of that time. And that may well be down to just how long Martinelli spent on the sidelines due to injury.

He is a young player anyway, so he is going to struggle at times. Arteta has kept him out of the firing line until he is ready.

His recent form for Arsenal suggests that Martinelli is definitely now ready to take on that key role.