Martin Keown believes Gabriel Martinelli’s starting place is ‘in question’ for Arsenal’s Premier League clash against Manchester City this weekend.
Arsenal kicked off their Champions League campaign with a goalless draw against Atalanta on Thursday evening and struggled to create many clear-cut chances against last season’s Europa League winners.
Martinelli squandered Arsenal’s best chance in the second half and has now extended his run to 17 games without a goal or an assist for the Gunners.
Arsenal are now preparing for their match against City at the Etihad Stadium this Sunday and Keown feels Martinelli’s starting spot on the left flank is under threat.
‘[Martin] Odegaard is, without doubt, a big loss because he kind of sets everything going,’ Keown told TNT Sports.
‘He runs out into that pocket for [Bukayo] Saka, opens up the space for him and can feed him.
‘[Kai] Havertz was a little bit fixed tonight, wasn’t moving in the same way, they tried to drop him and out, I don’t think that worked, you’ve got to have an out and out striker – maybe [Leandro] Trossard comes in at the weekend to fill that role.
‘Although maybe Martinelli’s position is in question, in front of goal he needs a little bit more composure, but I think the manager will stick with him.’
Keown added: ‘It’s a learning process, you have to go through that and learn as a group and you draw off one another, you look around the dressing room.
‘We were just chatting there to Declan [Rice] about Martinelli – no goal in 17 games now. Is he going to spread that love, that leadership you need?’
Meanwhile, Rio Ferdinand believes Arsenal’s lack of attacking threat against Atalanta is a worry ahead of their clash with City this Sunday.
‘I think that would be my concern at the weekend, I think the creativity, it’s something you look at today, the manager said it in his post-game comments, bit sloppy, ball retention wasn’t where it wanted to be,’ Ferdinand said.
‘And that will have to improve, they’ll have to be more clinical and decisive when they get that one or two opportunities. Let’s face it, City aren’t going to give them five or six opportunities, I’ll be surprised if they get that.
‘Today, Martinelli had a really good chance and he wasn’t composed enough. They are areas where they’ll have to clean up their act if they’re going to get anything against Man City.’
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