Matthew Upson believes Arsenal did not play to the strengths of Gabriel Martinelli in their 0-0 draw with Newcastle United. He also hints their midfielders frustrated the Brazilian winger.
Martinelli struggled to make much of an impact in the clash as the Gunners faced the Toon on Tuesday night. Kieran Trippier shadowed the 21-year-old whenever the full-back could to keep him quiet. The Magpies also limited the supply of passes into the six-cap dynamo.
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Ben White played a few cross-field passes into Martinelli but struggled to utilise the switch consistently enough. Trippier’s diligent defending with the help of Sean Longstaff and Joe Willock tracking back also meant Newcastle could outnumber Martinelli in the wide areas.
Martinelli has been one of Arsenal’s most dangerous players in their run to the top of the Premier League table this term. No Gunners player has outscored the Guarulhos native or Martin Odegaard, who have seven goals each. Martinelli has also laid on two assists so far.
The Gunners’ £6m signing from Ituano in 2019 had also scored once in their last two top-flight fixtures. Martinelli bagged their second goal in a 3-1 win over West Ham United on Boxing Day. He then struck the fourth in a 4-2 win at Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
Upson has hinted Arsenal frustrated Martinelli with their approach vs Newcastle
But Newcastle often kept Martinelli from getting into very threatening positions to take a point from Arsenal. Even though he ended the game having attempted a match-high four shots, per WhoScored. The forward only directed one of his attempts on target, however.
Martinelli has only attempted four or more shots in five of his 17 Premier League outings so far this season. But his closest attempt saw the ball float just wide of Nick Pope’s post. The attacker flicked his header goal-bound from a near-post corner but it skimmed just wide.
Upson, though, has hinted that the way Arsenal’s midfield fed Martinelli the ball against Newcastle frustrated the forward. The former Gunners centre-half believes the forward wanted to be fed in-behind Trippier to test the full-back. But those desires were not met.
“A couple of times in this game Gabriel Martinelli has been played to feet and every time the midfield have the ball, he only wants it in one place – and that’s in behind,” Upson said on BBC Radio 5 Live.
“A few times they’ve gone to feet rather than sliding it in and just asking the questions of the full-backs.”
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