100% Dribbles: Arteta Can Forget Nico Williams After Arsenal Star’s Performance v Man United – Opinion
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal secured their second consecutive win of the pre-season early Sunday morning, defeating Manchester United 2-1 in California. This victory follows their earlier triumph over Bournemouth, which was clinched via a penalty shootout.
Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli scored the goals for Arsenal, overturning an early setback when Rasmus Hojlund put Manchester United ahead just 10 minutes into the match. This win highlights the team’s strong form in their pre-season campaign.
The match also provided a valuable chance for both first-team players and academy prospects to demonstrate their abilities as Arteta prepares for the 2024/25 season. Arteta aims to end Arsenal’s 20-year wait for an English top-division title.
One standout player made a significant impact despite a brief appearance, leaving Arteta with a potential dilemma regarding his transfer strategy as a result of this performance in the US.
Gabriel Martinelli’s Stats Against Manchester United
Brazilian winger Martinelli had a difficult end to the previous season, often being used as a substitute and scoring only six goals throughout the 2023/24 season.
Leandro Trossard was the preferred choice for the left side under Mikel Arteta. However, Martinelli’s recent impactful performance as a substitute may prompt Arteta to reconsider his strategy in the near future.
Coming on in the 71st minute for Reiss Nelson, Martinelli scored the decisive goal with a precise shot, putting the ball past Andre Onana at his near post.
Martinelli’s performance, including his noteworthy statistics, is likely to have impressed Arteta.
| Gabriel Martinelli’s stats against Manchester United | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | Tally |
| Minutes played | 19 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Dribbles completed | 3/3 (100%) |
| Passes completed | 3/3 (100%) |
| Duels won | 4/6 (66%) |
| Tackles won | 1 |
| Crosses completed | 1/2 (50%) |
| Stats Source: SofaScore | |
He successfully completed all three of his dribbles, maintaining a 100% success rate, and also recorded an equal number of passes during his time on the field.
The 23-year-old demonstrated sharpness and determination, winning four out of six duels and making a tackle. Journalist Kaya Kaynak awarded him a 7/10 rating for his performance.
His performance was precisely what Arteta had hoped for from the forward, especially after his recent underwhelming months with the Gunners. Martinelli’s strong showing could potentially restore him to a starting position and influence the manager’s thoughts about making an additional signing.
Why Arteta Should Forget Williams
Recently, Arsenal have shown strong interest in acquiring Nico Williams, a talented winger from Athletic Bilbao.
This interest has been fueled by Williams’ impressive performance during Euro 2024, where he scored twice and provided an assist, playing a significant role in Spain’s fourth tournament win.
It has been reported that Williams has a release clause of £49 million in his contract, with Barcelona and Chelsea also keen on signing him this summer.
Given that Martinelli is similarly aged to Williams, securing regular Premier League minutes is essential for his continued development at Arsenal.
The potential addition of Williams might impede Martinelli’s progress, despite the Brazilian’s recent demonstration of his value against Manchester United.
Last season posed challenges for Martinelli, but the new season offers him a fresh chance to prove himself and reach the potential that Arsenal fans expect.
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