Arsenal boss Unai Emery comments on Gabriel Martinelli in training

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Arsenal could use Gabriel Martinelli as a striker this evening, even though Unai Emery doesn’t think he’s best suited to the role.

Arsenal boss Unai Emery has told Football London that Gabriel Martinelli could be used as a striker later this evening.

Arsenal are set to take on Standard Liege in the Europa League tonight and Emery is set to make wholesale changes to his squad.

Martinelli is expected to be given a start in the contest, but he could be used in an unfamiliar position.

The Brazilian has always generally played on the wing since moving to Arsenal.

But Emery has revealed that Martinelli has been training as a striker recently.

And even though the Spanish boss doesn’t think that Martinelli is ideally suited to being a number nine, he could task the 18-year-old with leading the line this evening.

“Martinelli, we are using him in training, we used against Nottingham Forest as a striker – it is not the best position for him but he played well and he played some times there in Brazil but he can play right or left,” Emery said.

“Maybe, Reiss Nelson can play as a striker in one moment but in the beginning, I am thinking about Aubameyang and I am not sure [if he will play] and the second option is Martinelli.”

Arsenal go into tonight’s game as favourites to pick up the three points, despite the changes that they are anticipated to make.

The Gunners made a fine start to their Europa League campaign, as they beat Eintracht Frankfurt 3-0 in their first game to immediately move to the top of their group.