Mikel Arteta says that Gabriel Martinelli, and other young players, need time and patience to develop, but spoke glowingly about the Brazilian’s quality and attitude as he makes his way back from a serious knee injury.
It was reported earlier that he is earmarked for a game with the U23s in December, and he has clearly impressed the Arsenal manager with his commitment and work at London Colney.
However, he was keen to play down expectations of a 19 year old being a saviour of some kind, insisting that he will need time as he gains experience at the highest level.
“Gabi is another one that even in a moment of adversity you see him training and everything he brings and contributes to the team – his energy, his passion, his motivation – he is transmitting positive emotions to everybody.
“He tries and goes and goes again … he wants to score a goal and he is ruthless in training in every single action.
“So the more players you have to add, in the end that gets translated into what happens on the football pitch. Over time you will be stable.
“He is another one who brings something different to the team, and we need players like him.”
On the expectations that surround him, and the idea that he’ll simply pick up where he left off, Arteta was a bit more circumspect.
“Time!” he said. “Time is the key word in this industry and nobody’s going to give you time the moment the ball doesn’t go in the net and you lose a football match. You question all the rest.
“So, with Gabi it’s the same. He needs time. He’s done it for a period of time, or in certain moments throughout a game.
“Consistently for three years, two years, for a year, he’s never done it. I’m sorry, he’s never done it so we cannot put that pressure on him.
“It’s like with Bukayo and the other young players we have, they’ve never done it in their career so why do you expect them to do it today? And in which environment, in which context?
“So patience, but he is a positive guy to have back in the team, yes because he’s such a character as well.”
“So the more players you have to add, in the end that gets translated into what happens on the football pitch. “
What does this mean?
He spews rubbish and we’ve foolishly bought it so far #artetaout
Yeah look how foolish we were in supporting a manager that won a trophy in his first few months as a manager…shame on us! #idiotsout
Jon, you spew rubbish. #Jonout
Before this, he said “He [Gabi] tries and goes and goes again … he wants to score a goal and he is ruthless in training in every single action.” So I assume he meant “So the more players [like the above] you have to add…” the better it is for the team because the team also becomes ruthless, etc.
Could be; right after, though, he says “over time you will be stable,” so I take the phrase as cautioning against putting expectations too high when he’s first reintroduced. Either way, I’ll be glad to have gabi healed and back in the team.
Something I do not like about Arteta is that he applies the handbrake on the young players. Always, time, time, time is the key thing. If you have watched Rooney at Everton and Fabregas and Anelka at Arsenal, you know there is no such thing.
This is something (else) I’m starting to worry about – he didn’t play Gabi as much as he could have done pre-injury, he bought the geriatric Willian which blocks Pepe and Nelson’s chances, and couldn’t even be bothered to register Saliba for Europe. He gives Balogun a few minutes at the end of games, and we haven’t seen any youngsters being given debuts this season. I think he’s just as conservative with players as he is with his formations …
Yeh and one the times he did play, he saved our blushes with 10 men against Chelse. As the saying goes, if you’re good enough you’re old enough and he’s not just a damn good player, he can bang them in too on a regular basis.. His name is written in the stars, I am sure Salah and De Bruyne hurt Chelsea in the chest, don’t do that
Too true. Other Clubs manage successfully to integrate 18 and 19 year olds into their teams. How are they going to develop if they never play?
They finish mid table or worse and their fans somewhat accept that. Almost NO CL team plays more than one developing player at a time in critical games unless budget, injuries or priority require it. Those that play younger players as part of their management strategy and succeed…what is our definition of success as Arsenal fans??
As much as I hate to see it, Chelsea plays Mason Mount, Abraham, their RB I can’t recall his name, Zouma. All academy products. Not really hurting them at all no?
Just only in 2004 we were miles ahead Spurs and slightly ahead of Chelsea in both first team and our youth set up. Now we’ve fallen behind both of them in both categories. Dark times ahead.
He has to handbrake things because of fans and social media. Despite trying to protect them, allow them to mature, grow, learn….all it takes is a few missed shots and last years player of the year becomes this years failure. This is a new world, a new social environment. Having a bunch of reactionary buttheads who pad their egos by criticizing and demeaning young amazing growing and learning elite athletes… that is our new world and Arsenal fans are some of the worst/best at demeaning their heroes. How cool if we had a Football Manager reality game or show where… Read more »
He meant the more players with a positive attitude you have on the team…I think this has been misprinted on here because I read it on the Arsenal.com site and it made perfect sense.
I think, in context (which is about how hard Martinelli trains), Arteta was saying that having many hungry players in training competing for places leads to a stronger team in matches.
Yeah reading that wasn’t as easy as his earlier musings. The whole time thing sounded like a plea for time for him. And I’m perfectly aware that Gabi and Saka etc haven’t performed consistently at the top level for 3 years, because how could they?!
Hoping results improve quickly
“He is another one who brings something different to the team, and we need players like him.”
In other words, he’s not the type of player I want in my system (much as he may have the potential to be a brilliant player) #artetaout
Give it a rest champ
That’s abit of a stretch mate. Really.
I feel he is over complicating certain aspects of a prodigious talent like he over coaches. Arteta needs to realise not everything is under his control and the best young players only get better by playing.
All he is saying here is that it’s unfair to expect Martinelli to single-handedly turn this boat around, IMO
Yep, that’s what he said
No, the fact he did not play Martinelli in the games before he got injured tell otherwise.
But he did play, when Aubameyang was suspended and in Aubameyang’s position. That should tell you that he considered him Aubameyang’s understudy at the time which is hardly unreasonable.
hmmm, I personally disagree with this view. Coaching whilst you’re young is the best time to do it any sporting situation. Yeah, you can let them run free and express their hopeful genius, however…that’s what it is – hopeful. In that time they may pick up quite a few bad habits that will take longer to coach out of them after they get older. That’s totally not to say that there aren’t issues with over-coaching, but when you see players like Ceballos and Xhaka in charge on the centre of the park, they need as much help as possible. We… Read more »
Common fffffing sense, Thanks
Arteta saying Martinelli needs time, sounds similar to what he said about Saliba needing time. I’m not sure Arteta has changed his opinion on Martinelli i.e. prior to his injury, Arteta didn’t play him much anyway.
I actually think Martinelli needs time – playing time, to improve. Our current form anyway needs us to take some risks.
Exactly. Apparently Brendan Rodgers thinks Fofana, Saliba’s young St Etienne team mate, needs time in Leicester’s first team. Arteta thinks the more expensive Saliba needs time back on load at St Etienne …
Unfortunately time isn’t what Arteta has right now. If we get humped on Sunday then I think he is moving onto the thin ice.
Heard it here first, Martinelli to be Arsenal’s 2020/21 top goalscorer
Heard it here first (if arteta is in charge), martinelli to be top scorer at the club he’s loaned out too in 2020/21
So…. the same things he was saying about Saliba?
I think people were hyping his return a bit much. He was great when he was fit last season but he is very young and we shouldn’t be relying on him as the saviour, as much as I can’t wait for his return
In souls nobly born, worthiness does not wait for the number of years.
It is not common with players playing with the intensity Martinelli do, really wears his heart on his sleeve and you got to love that!
No pressure kid but I am looking forward to your return, a lot!
so will he be back to first team games around jan?
No Arteta’s saying he needs time AKA a season or two on loan
MA is just buying time for himself day by day with each of his words….
Not bashing Arteta here but what player of the current crop has “done it” consistently over the last few years, that’s is why we are where we are. Some players need time to develop and some are just ready to go, yes he needs time to fully recover from his injury and should not be rushed back in that sense but when he is fit he should be in the starting 11, honestly who could justifiably start ahead of him. This boy is special and his age and inexperience should not be used as an excuse to keep him out… Read more »
So one of our best players last season needs time? Ok then. Guess we all are looking forward to keep seeing William play, instead of playing, giving play time and experience to the prospects, right Mikel?
And before people come and tell me: He is just coming from a long time injury, I’m aware, and I believe we should give him time to recover and be totally fit. But Mikel words make me wonder that even if he is fit, he wouldn’t play him too much.
How many games a week does he play? How do his strengths match up with the strengths of the other team(s) ? What other issues with other players should I consider when choosing when to play him? What do I do if my other player is doing better than him in practice? What if he says he feels a “niggle” of an injury? Do I play him against XXX player who loves to injure players….do I play him against XXX when they have a running fight with each other? Which games should he play now….we just got another striker injured??… Read more »
Whoever is peddling the myth that Arteta did not play Gabi enough needs to stop it…Gabi played far more minutes in the PL under Arteta than Unai…under Unai, Gabi was literally getting small cameo parts whereas under Arteta he played whole games. Also I don’t understand why some fans want to heap pressure on these young players instead of allowing them to develop naturally and normally…everyone was crying out for Willock to start in the PL but as soon as he does then everyone moans about him not being good or consistent and recently there has been some horrible abuse… Read more »
The issue isn’t about giving young players time to develop if they need it it’s about keeping a player out of the side who is clearly better than any of the alternatives.
Martinelli is head and shoulders above any of the young players we have coming through and as such should be treated differently.
We have not had a player with his potential for years, he has the talent and temperament to play on a regular basis.
“Treating some players as head and shoulders above the others…they all love that and it never causes issues! “ That was the opening sentence In the number one best selling book … Teambuilding and Coaching 101
i think that you have misinterpreted what i meant, i was not suggesting that he get preferential treatment merley that his is at a more advanced stage in his development than any of the others of his age group and based purely on his ability he should be starting matches when he is fit.
Hopefully he returns with a bang. Will be huge for him and great for the club.
I think Martinelli has done it in the past. 10 goals in half a season is looking like a miracle these days.
I can see Arteta turning Martinelli into another Carlos Vela.
What a fucking demoralising speech.