Kevin Campbell claimed last night that Mikel Arteta was coaching Gabriel Martinelli to play as a centre-forward for Arsenal.
Campbell, speaking to The Highbury Squad podcast, claimed that he has heard from people in the club that the out-of-favour young Brazilian attacker is being groomed for a number nine role.
And if true, it would suggest that the Arsenal boss might be looking to replace linked-away Alexandre Lacazette with the 19-year-old.
First-team chances for Martinelli have been few and far between since returning from injury toward the end of 2020.
In fact, he has started only two Premier League games and hasn’t appeared in that competition for close to two months.
But Arteta clearly doesn’t rate the young South American all that highly as a wide option and therefore it’s very plausible that the Spaniard wants him through the middle instead.
And with Lacazette said to be leaving North London this summer [Calciomercato], it’s even more plausible that Arteta is grooming Martinelli – who cost £6 million in 2019 – to replace the French hitman, going by what Campbell has alleged.
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