Arsenal Could Replace Gabriel Martinelli With “Excellent Finisher” Who’s “the Fastest Player at Hale End”
Arsenal has had a challenging start to the Premier League season this year.
Although Mikel Arteta’s side secured victories in their opening two matches, they encountered a setback in their third game when Declan Rice received a red card, causing them to drop points for the first time.
In addition, team captain Martin Odegaard suffered an ankle injury during international duty, sidelining him for at least three weeks.
Despite these challenges, Arsenal faced Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby. With a makeshift midfield, the Gunners managed to secure a crucial victory at Seven Sisters Road.
The match lacked high-quality play, but the win was vital. While the team’s collective effort was commendable, Gabriel Martinelli’s struggles in front of goal were apparent.
This aspect of his performance needs improvement, especially with a talented youngster at Hale End potentially vying for his spot in the near future.
Gabriel Martinelli’s Recent Form
At his best, Martinelli is undoubtedly one of the most electric and exciting wingers in the Premier League. This was evident in his impressive performance during the 22/23 season, where he scored 15 goals and provided six assists across 46 games.
However, the issue lies in the fact that Martinelli has not been performing at this level for some time.
For instance, while the rest of the team either maintained or improved their form last season, Martinelli experienced a noticeable decline.
He ended the season with only eight goals and five assists in 44 matches, which saw his goal involvement drop from one every 2.19 games to one every 3.38 games.
| Martinelli’s recent seasons | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Season | 22/23 | 23/24 | 24/25 |
| Appearances | 46 | 44 | 4 |
| Goals | 15 | 8 | 0 |
| Assists | 6 | 5 | 0 |
| Goal Involvements per Match | 0.45 | 0.29 | 0.00 |
| Stats Source: Transfermarkt | |||
The Guarulhos-born dynamo has unfortunately carried his poor form in front of goal into this season. After four league games, accumulating a total of 251 minutes, he has neither scored nor assisted a goal, despite having several excellent opportunities to do so.
What frustrates fans even more is the fact that he has had these chances. He still possesses the ability to beat defenders and, at moments against Spurs, appeared to be a real threat. However, as was the case last season, his final ball, shot, or decision let him down.
There remains a possibility that the former Ituano star can regain the form that earned him widespread praise a couple of years ago. However, if he doesn’t, he risks losing his place in the starting lineup and, in a few years, could even be replaced by a promising academy talent.
Why Ismeal Kabia Should Replace Gabriel Martinelli
The promising 18-year-old winger, Ismeal Kabia, was one of five Hale End academy graduates named on the bench for Sunday’s match against Tottenham Hotspur. He was joined by Ethan Nwaneri, Ayden Heaven, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and Maldini Kacurri.
The young Dutchman did not make it onto the field, but his inclusion on the bench indicates that Arteta and the club hold him in high regard.
This selection reflects their confidence in his potential and their belief in what he could develop into over the next few years. In the future, he could even pose a challenge to established players in the squad.
Though the promising player primarily operates as a right-winger, he has demonstrated versatility. Eight of his 22 starts and 33 total appearances have been on the left wing.
Similar to how Martinelli was deployed on the right side during the last game of the previous season, there is no reason why this young talent couldn’t feature more frequently on the left in the future. Playing on that side could enable him to cut inside and take advantage of his stronger right foot.
Over his 33 appearances for various youth teams in recent seasons, the youngster has netted four goals and provided four assists.
While these stats may not seem extraordinary, they offer encouraging signs of his development. As podcaster Will Balsam pointed out, the player is an “excellent finisher,” which further underscores his potential.
Perhaps his most remarkable attribute is his blistering pace. Balsam described the 18-year-old as a “spark plug” and hailed him as the “fastest player we’ve seen at Hale End in the last 10 years.” This kind of speed is a significant asset, and it may earn him opportunities in cup competitions as his career progresses.
In conclusion, while Martinelli remains a fantastic player, he needs to regain his goal-scoring touch. Meanwhile, Kabia, though young and primarily right-sided, has shown enough promise on the left to become a more regular squad member in the future. His ultimate goal could be to challenge Martinelli for the starting spot, signaling healthy competition within the team.
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