Gabriel Martinelli Training as a Striker with Brazil

In recent training sessions with the Brazilian national squad, Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli has been seen taking on a new role as a striker. This shift in position could potentially benefit both the player and his club, offering Arsenal an exciting alternative up front. While Martinelli has primarily featured as a left winger for the Gunners, his versatility and natural goal-scoring ability make him a strong candidate for the center-forward position.

Martinelli’s Training as a Striker

During Brazil’s recent training sessions, Gabriel Martinelli was deployed as a center-forward, showcasing his skills in this new role. The videos from the training sessions highlighted Martinelli’s ability to lead the line and play as the focal point of the attack. This experimentation by Brazil‘s head coach, Fernando Diniz, indicates a recognition of Martinelli’s potential as a striker and could pave the way for more opportunities in this position.

Martinelli’s Previous Experience as a Striker

While Martinelli has predominantly played as a left winger for Arsenal, he has had previous stints as a striker, particularly during Unai Emery’s tenure as manager. In his early days at the club, Martinelli showcased his goal-scoring prowess while playing as a ‘number nine,’ netting impressive goals in the Premier League, Europa League, and Carabao Cup. Despite his success in this role, his appearances as a striker have been limited, with the majority of his playing time coming from the left wing.

The Potential Impact on Arsenal

Arsenal has been in search of a reliable goalscorer to lead their front line, and Martinelli’s emergence as a potential striker could provide a solution. While Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah have struggled for consistency, Martinelli’s adaptability and natural goal-scoring instincts make him a promising candidate to fill this void. Should Martinelli excel in his new role for Brazil, it would be hard for Arsenal to ignore his potential as a central striker.

Arsenal’s Striker Options

As Arsenal considers their striker options, Ivan Toney of Brentford has been frequently mentioned as a potential target. However, the reported valuation of £100 million for Toney by Brentford may be a significant hurdle for the Gunners. Additionally, 19-year-old Karim Konate from Red Bull Salzburg has also attracted attention from Arsenal scouts after his impressive performances, including a brace in a recent match. Exploring Martinelli’s potential as a striker could potentially save Arsenal significant transfer fees and provide a long-term solution.

Martinelli’s Natural Goalscoring Ability

Many football pundits, including Arsenal legend Martin Keown, believe that Martinelli possesses the natural ability to be a prolific goalscorer. Keown emphasizes that Martinelli’s natural position may actually be as a central striker, given his instincts in front of goal. Comparisons have been drawn to the success of players like Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, who have thrived as inside forwards, cutting inside from the wings. Placing Martinelli in the middle could unlock his full goal-scoring potential and provide Arsenal with a lethal attacking threat.

Arsenal’s Need for a Goalscorer

Despite Arsenal’s ability to spread goals across the team, they have lacked a consistent and reliable goalscorer in recent seasons. With Gabriel Jesus facing injury troubles and Eddie Nketiah struggling for form, Martinelli’s emergence as a potential striker offers a glimmer of hope for the Gunners. By capitalizing on his natural ability to find the back of the net, Martinelli could provide the goal-scoring prowess that Arsenal has been missing.

Martinelli’s Future at Arsenal

While Martinelli’s training as a striker for Brazil is an exciting development, it is unlikely to change his trajectory at Arsenal. The club values his versatility and contributions from the left wing, and his future with the Gunners seems to lie in that position. However, his ability to seamlessly transition into a central striker role for Brazil demonstrates his adaptability and the potential for future experimentation at Arsenal should the need arise.

Gabriel Martinelli’s recent training as a striker for Brazil has sparked excitement among Arsenal fans. His natural goalscoring ability and versatility make him a strong contender for the central striker position, offering a potential solution to Arsenal’s search for a reliable goalscorer. While his future at Arsenal may still lie on the wing, Martinelli’s exposure to a new role could lead to further experimentation and opportunities in the future. As fans eagerly await his return to club football, the prospect of Martinelli shining as a striker for both Brazil and Arsenal remains a tantalizing possibility.