Arsenal legend, Ian Wright, has voiced his disappointment with Gabriel Martinelli’s decision-making during Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Wolves in their Premier League opener. Despite the team's solid win, Wright was critical of a moment when Martinelli chose to shoot from a tight angle instead of passing to an open teammate.
The incident that drew criticism occurred when Martinelli opted to shoot from a challenging position rather than passing the ball to an unmarked Declan Rice in the box. This decision came despite Arsenal having secured their win with goals from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka.
Wright attributed this choice to what he described as Martinelli’s “desperation to do well.” He suggested that after a lackluster previous season and facing competition from Leandro Trossard, Martinelli might have been overly eager to impress. This eagerness could have led him to overlook better options on the field - such as potentially putting Arsenal two goals up before halftime.
Arsenal legend, Ian Wright, said:
“This one here is a bit disappointing for me because he [Martinelli] has got the opportunity to cut back to Declan Rice… I know that he’s desperate to do well because he has got Trossard on the bench. He had a poor season last year, Martinelli.
“But he’s trying to impress upon the manager, but give that back to Declan Rice, 2-0, and then you probably get your goal in the second half.”
Arteta praises team's performance
Despite Wright's criticism, Mikel Arteta, Arsenal's manager was pleased with his team's overall performance. He highlighted their ability not only secure a win but also keep a clean sheet in the Wolves match. Acknowledging the challenge posed by the first game of any season, Arteta praised his team for adapting and securing what he described as a "job well done."
Looking forward into their schedule, next Saturday will see Arsenal vs Aston Villa - another strong team that finished fourth last season and started their campaign with an impressive win over West Ham. Arteta reiterated that while individual performances are important, it is ultimately consistent results throughout the season that will determine whether or not they achieve their title aspirations.
While individual moments of decision-making like Martinelli's may draw criticism, it is the overall performance and results that will define Arsenal's season. As they prepare to face Aston Villa, maintaining their winning momentum will be crucial for their title aspirations.
