Arsenal Legend Ian Wright Surprised by Mikel Arteta’s Decision to Bench Gabriel Martinelli
In a surprising move, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta decided to bench Gabriel Martinelli for their match against Crystal Palace on Saturday. This decision left Arsenal legend Ian Wright “very surprised.” Martinelli was only brought on in the 69th minute, replacing goalscorer Leandro Trossard.
Despite his limited playing time, Martinelli made a significant impact on the game. Within a minute of being on the pitch, he scored two goals, contributing to Arsenal’s 5-0 victory.
When questioned about his decision to bench Martinelli, Arteta explained that he wanted to give Trossard a chance to impress. He believed that Trossard deserved the opportunity and that his experience would bring energy and freshness to the frontline.
Speaking after the match, Wright expressed his surprise at Martinelli’s absence from the starting lineup. He praised Martinelli’s performance when he finally came on, describing his first goal as a “very good finish” and highlighting his ability to take advantage of the space given by Crystal Palace’s poor performance.
Martinelli has been a key player for Arsenal this season, contributing four goals and two assists in 19 Premier League games.
In related news, Theo Walcott questioned why Arteta did not substitute another Arsenal star during the Crystal Palace match. Additionally, Arteta provided injury updates on two key Arsenal players after the game.
Overall, Martinelli’s impact off the bench proved crucial for Arsenal, and Arteta’s decision to start Trossard instead raised eyebrows among fans and pundits alike.