Michael Owen has stated that he was ‘screaming’ at Gabriel Martinelli because he was constantly putting in ‘poor’ corners during Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Fulham on Saturday, as he told Premier League Productions.
If you fail once, twice or three times, just keep on trying again and that’s what Martinelli did yesterday because his most important corner resulted in Mikel Arteta’s side scoring the winning goal.
Gabriel Magalhaes would have been the most relieved man in London because it was his mistake that led to Fulham opening the scoring, but towards the end, he was the one wheeling away in celebration.
It was a scramble, but a goal is a goal and those three points are oh so valuable because it also ensures Arsenal maintain their 100% start to the new season.
Some change from this time last season, eh Arsenal supporters?!
Nonetheless, Martinelli’s corners was a big talking point for former England striker Owen and he shared how it worked when it mattered most.
“It’s just a brilliant area to hit it in,” said Owen. “With goalkeepers, you have two options. You can either stay at home or try to punch.
“But you know if you are going to try to punch, then you have to go through bodies and that’s what Leno had to do. We are always going to try to say ‘there was a foul’ or ‘there was a block’.
“However, the corner was just put into a very dangerous area and that was Martinelli’s best corner kick. Two of them early in the second half. He keeps throwing his former goalkeeper catching practice at the back first.
“First one, he curls one and it hits the top of the bar. He gets an ‘oooh’ from the crowd, but it was a poor corner. It was a poor delivery even though he had a good game. It poor on a lot of the corners, but that was the one that he put into a really dangerous area and they pulled through.”
FIVE FROM FIVE FOR ARSENAL?
It has been over 15 years since Arsenal have been in such a position and they have every chance to make it five from five on Wednesday night.
The games are coming thick and fast now, so it will be interesting to see if Arteta changes things up for the visit of Aston Villa.
The pressure is well and truly on Steven Gerrard in the Midlands after Villa suffered a 1-0 defeat against West Ham on Sunday – their third loss of the season.
Added with that, Arsenal did the double over Villa last season, so there is every chance it can be five from five for the London club.
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