After Gabriel Martinelli’s two goal salvo in our 4-1 win over Leeds last night, making it four goals in six games for the 20 year old, Mikel Arteta made some interesting comments to Sky Sports after the game.
While acknowledging he has taken a big step forward in recent weeks, he made it clear that developing young talent is something that needs be done on the training ground, and not simply through game-time when they might not be quite at the right stage of their development.
“You have to prepare a player,” said Arteta. “You cannot throw a player in when you think he’s not ready, and Gabi has made the right steps, he’s evolving in the right direction, and the ceiling is I don’t know where because he has so much he can still improve.”
It was something he expanded on in his post-match press conference, suggesting his recent introduction has come at a point when he and his coaching staff felt he could maintain a consistent level of performance.
“We see the player every day and we know where the player has to be to be able to appear in the right frame, and then sustain that level into the season,” he said.
“We’ve started to use Gabi more and more when we thought that was the case. There’s no point exposing a player even when there’s a lot of opinions that it has to be done because it won’t be beneficial for the player.
“In the end we are here to protect the player and develop the players that we have in the best possible way. We judge every day with what we see and I’m really happy with him and the way he’s performing.
“He’s come a long, long way because his energy, his passion, his commitment, it doesn’t get much better than that ever, but there are other aspects in the game that he’s had to develop and maintain the ones that he’s exceptional at.
“Like today, because when he has chances he puts them away. Again, he’s in the right direction.”
The timing of this run of form is particularly pleasing too, given the Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang situation, and his goals from forward positions are vital, augmenting those which come from further behind.
Let’s hope he can keep it up.
Get in there Gabi 💪💪💪💪
I do like Arteta but I also feel he’s lucked out on a few decisions. Would gabi be starting if he hadn’t scored that goal when he came on as a sub and basically forced Arteta to pick him? ESR was forced upon him too.
Either way I’m not complaining I’m glad the young boys are killing it but I do think he’s got a bit lucky rather than planned.
We are in a good run again and all Arsenal fans want to hear is that the manager is a semi-god, nothing else.
I prefer to think of it as giving credit when it is due as opposed to trying to fit things into an agenda that pleases me.
Exactly. Arteta has his flaws. This is clear. But some people just can’t seem to give credit when it is merited. Losing the form of one of the best goal scorers in Arsenal history and having to play a kid with little experience is not a lucky break. Arteta takes the criticism from fans when they want the new shiny thing in the team and protects the player to develop behind scenes and then hopefully he is ready when the time comes. But that is what a good manager does for the long term development of the player and this… Read more »
Losing the form of one of the best goal scorers in Arsenal history and having to play a kid with little experience is not a lucky break.
You are right, it’s not. That’s why nobody said Eddie was a lucky break.
Having to play a kid with little experience who starts scoring like Gani does, however, take some luck.
When you look at Gabi’s gameplay now, it is reaches ahead of where it was even beginning of this season. He didn’t just stumble into that. And it wasn’t always there.
Set the goals aside, and Gabi’s performances have still been very solid. And he now integrates miles better into the team than just a couple months ago. That’s not luck.
Credit where it’s due, and Arteta deserves it for his role in developing Gabi into a better player.
Eddie was tremendous in training to be selected previously, according to Arteta. Surely Gabi didn’t just buck it up in the last couple of months? Yet, Eddie was deemed more ready, but the results are very different.
Well said, mate.
Yeah pretty much. Nothing @Tommmy wrote was controversial.
The gatekeeping is understandable though. Though it did only take him a mere 2 years and £250 million to get there, 4th place is brand new territory for Arteta, so many fans will treasure it like Smeagol does the One Ring. Even if it’s only a temporary possession.
The way I see it, we’re finally in a good run of form and the same wet blankets are just looking for ways to be wet.
Aaah there it is. The classic “ESR and Saka saved Arteta’s job” argument that certain fans have been holding onto since that Chelsea match a year ago. Completely ignoring the fact that Arteta’s basically built an entire system around these players as soon as they were available for selection. But sure, all luck apart from that minor detail 😒
I love me some Gabi
Gabi was exemplary, but I’m not sure if we should read too much into recent matches (unpopular opinion, I’m sure). Our opponents were not in full strength (accepted, we still had to put them away), we offered the same chances that we did to ManU and they didn’t punish us and Leeds showed us what we’re missing in midfield, by passing the ball to us in places that we should be passing! Great week, good run of results and an excellent place to be in the table, but I’m just cautiously optimistic. Good teams could’ve punished us and we still… Read more »
Same line up in the the last 3 games.
Last 4 games isn’t it.
Wouldn’t be surprised if we made 11 changes for Sunderland and then keep the same 11 fresh for Norwich – Tomiyasu and Covid permitting – would be a Christmas miracle.
Would Laca have normally been preferred if Auba didn’t mess it up? Xhaka is alright against lesser teams, definitely not our answer for top 4. ESR is coming off bench as we need MO to control possesion and with Gabi driving forward like that, he can’t drop him too. MA is forced to make a lot of these changes that are working than by design. Like I said, I don’t read too much into these games until we come up against the bigger teams. I don’t belong to the extreme camps of Xhaka’s useless, send MA out or MA is… Read more »
He really isn’t forced to do it though, is he? He’d benched Auba before the falling out happened. And he’s often played Laca through the middle rather than Auba. He chose to start MO over ESR when he could have brought him back in. He obviously feels Xhaka offers a solidity in midfield Lokonga doesn’t quite have yet, but if this hasn’t changed in the next year I’ll eat my hat.
My point is, none of this is forced. He’s made some good decisions!
How would you like your hat? Well done, or is raw?
I read somewhere Lakonga had a positive COVID test. Hoping he starts getting game time. Probably a good idea to play Xhaka now so he can partner Lakonga when Partey is off to AFCON
Just hoping he stays injury free because physical defenders will try to rough him up. I love his style of play and the runs he constantly makes. He’s getting better on and off the ball.
Yes, that’s I’m afraid inevitable. He’ll get kicked because he’s an exceptional player, but hopefully he’s also smart to learn how best to protect himself. Fingers crossed
I imagine he will have learnt to deal with some of that in the lower leagues of Brazil.
I kinda recall seeing an article saying his decision to stay home and play in those leagues against older guys as a teenager was specifically for that reason.
He’s come all the way from Brazil!
And his career is now heading up to new heights….sensational player!!!
The first goal was made from Bak, Xhak, and Lac, finished off with a smooth Brazilian.
Missing Tu pac
It’s a natural time for the squad to naturally consider of including Gabi when they attack. Can they trust him to stay onside vs Auba. Or will he turn their bad pass into a good one. Look at Tomi, he admitted that he was afraid his pass for Gabi assist was a little long but Gabi made it work. I think naturally the squad knows there is going to be regular game time for him now and he will make everyone look good It’s a good time for Gabi now. Let’s hope he can continue to develop. Seems we could… Read more »
I think this is one of the examples of Arteta learning from Guardiola. For Gabriel Martinelli, read Phil Foden. A very talented young player, with lots to learn, brought around carefully. It’s easier for Pep, who has world-class alternatives, and knows he cannot lose his job with a few bad results (if that were even possible). Arteta deserves credit for this. (No, I’m not uncritical of him; I still don’t understand what’s going on with Pepe.)