GABRIEL MARTINELLI made his long-awaited playing return for Arsenal’s U23s on Tuesday night.
The starlet was named in the side to face AFC Wimbledon in Tuesday’s Papa John’s Trophy second-round match after spending the last six months out injured.
Gabriel Martinelli has returned for Arsenal after six months out through injuryCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The Brazilian started the U23s Papa John’s Trophy game against AFC WimbledonCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Martinelli was joined in the starting XI by William Saliba and looked back to his sprightly self, going close to scoring with a header in the 37th minute.
But he was visibly tired as the first half at Plough Lane went on and was hooked at the break with the score 0-0.
However, Arsenal went on to lose the match 3-0 while ending with just NINE men on the pitch.
Tim Akinola was sent off in the 80th minute before Saliba was shown a straight red for an awful challenge ten minutes later.
But the return of Martinelli to the field is sure to delight Gunners fans frustrated by their current shortcomings in the Premier League.
Martinelli had been sidelined since June with a knee injury picked up on the training field.
Before then, the 19-year-old Brazilian had thrilled the Emirates with ten goals in 26 games.
The injury came at a bad time in his development as a player, but the highly-rated youngster he has finally made his first appearance of the new campaign.
Martinelli looked back to his sprightly best after recovering from his knee injuryCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Despite the promising return, Mikel Arteta has urged fans not to expect Martinelli to save their season following Arsenal’s recent dismal run of performances.
He said: “Gabi is another one that even in a moment of adversity, you see him training and everything he brings to the team, his energy, his passion, his motivation, is translating positive emotions to everybody.
“He tries and goes and goes again and he wants to score a goal.
“He’s ruthless in training in every single action and the more players and staff you have to add that, at the end that gets translated to what happens on the football pitch and over time you will be stable.
“Gabi’s pressing brings something different to the team and we need players like him.
“Time is the key word in this industry, and nobody is going to give you time. The moment the ball doesn’t go in the net and you lose a match, you’re going to question all the rest, so with Gabi it’s the same.
“Now he needs time. He’s done it for a period of time and in certain moments throughout a game, but consistently for three years, two or one?
“He’s never done it. I’m sorry, but he’s never done it, so we cannot put that pressure on him.
“It’s like with Bukayo Saka and other young players that we have, they’ve never done it in their career, so why do you expect him to do it today?
“And in which environment? In which context? Patience, but he’s a positive guy to have back on the team because he’s such a character.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
