Kevin Campbell told the Highbury Squad Podcast that Mikel Arteta ‘cannot protect’ Bukayo Saka because he’s Arsenal’s ‘best player’.
The conversation was around claims that Arteta ‘doesn’t rate’ Gabriel Martinelli after how he has used the Arsenal teenager recently – he was an unused substitute during his side’s win against Leeds on Sunday.
Since Martinelli returned from a long-term injury, he has had a number of injury scares.
And Campbell shared, because of that, he is wrapping him in cotton wool and protecting him. Something he can do with the Brazil speedster, but not his fellow teammate, Saka.
“He does rate Martinelli,” said Campbell. “But I think he’s treating him with kid gloves, at the minute. Remember, he was out for a long time.
“He picked up another little injury in the warm-up in one of the games, which we thought could be long-term. That puts the fear into the manager sometimes.
“I think he’s going to protect these young players in the circumstances. He’s actually come out and said it.
“The fact of the matter is he cannot protect Saka because Saka’s our best player. He just cannot. He has to play. Smith Rowe has played. And they have been awesome. Unbelievable. Martinelli is a bit more of ‘wrap him in cotton wool’. He does rate him. I know he rates him.”
Arteta is doing the right thing in how he is using Martinelli because he already has had a number of scares since returning from the treatment room.
Against Leeds, he didn’t need to bring the versatile attacker on because the game was done and dusted.
Perhaps the annoyance from the Arsenal fans was more towards the fact that Willian came on rather than somebody else.
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