Alan Smith has written on SkySports.com that if Gabriel Martinelli is fit, then he has to start for Arsenal against Newcastle United tonight.
Arsenal will take on Newcastle at the Emirates Stadium in North London in the Premier League on Monday evening.
As reported by The London Evening Standard, forward Martinelli is fit and available for the match against the Magpies.
The 19-year-old Brazilian forward – who cost Arsenal £6 million in transfer fee when they signed him for Ituano FC in the summer of 2019, as reported by The Telegraph – has recovered from an injury to his ankle.
Former Arsenal star Smith believes that Martinelli has to be included in manager Mikel Arteta’s starting lineup tonight if he is fit.
Smith wrote on SkySports.com: “But if Gabriel Martinelli comes into the equation for the game against Newcastle then things are different. If fit, you really want to see him in the team because of the way he performed before sustaining that ankle injury in the warm-up ahead of the cup tie with Newcastle.
“He brings an awful lot to this Arsenal side, and if he does play on the left then it does give them more options. It provides an opportunity to bring Aubameyang into the middle.”
Should Gabriel Martinelli start tonight?
Martinelli is a very good and promising young forward, and the 19-year-old must be eager to get a run of games for Arsenal.
However, the teenager has only just recovered from injury, and perhaps Arteta should keep him on the substitutes’ bench at the start of the game.
Martinelli could always come on as a substitute in the second half and make an impact on the game.
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