Martin Keown has suggested to BT Sport that Mikel Arteta should be selecting Gabriel Martinelli more often for Arsenal.
Martinelli made an impact off the bench for Arsenal on Thursday, despite only being given just over 10 minutes’ worth of action.
The Brazilian was a real livewire and was seriously unlucky not to have an assist to his name, after Pierre Emerick Aubameyang missed a golden opportunity when he came on.
Keown definitely was impressed by the Arsenal youngster and has suggested that Arteta isn’t using him enough right now.
“I thought Martinelli did especially well when he came on. I don’t see enough of him,” he said.
Arteta has certainly been very protective of Martinelli since his return from injury.
The Arsenal boss did recently insist that the 19-year-old was training well, but he simply had to be patient and wait for his chance.
Many Arsenal fans are frustrated over Martinelli’s lack of action though, and the hope is that his midweek cameo will push him closer to more first-team chances.
Arsenal are next in action on Sunday when they take on West Ham United, and it remains to be seen whether Martinelli will be given the chance to take to the field again.
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