Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta could use Gabriel Martinelli to solve biggest transfer problem | Football | Sport

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta could utilise the services of Gabriel Martinelli to boost his options in the lone striker role ahead of next season, according to reports. The 20-year-old emerged as one of the club’s brightest prospects after breaking into the first-team setup back in 2019 and is currently enjoying his best season to date with the Gunners.

Martinelli, who is often deployed as a winger, has registered four goals from 11 starts in the Premier League since the beginning of the campaign.

He has excelled on plenty of occasions when tasked with cutting in from the left-hand side to support attacks and looks set to remain a key member of Arteta’s squad for the foreseeable future.

The Brazilian maestro is contracted to Arsenal until the summer of 2024 after penning a long-term extension to his previous deal two years ago.

However, it seems as though he could be set for a positional change in the near future to provide additional depth in advance of next season.

Martinelli has been playing as a central striker in recent training sessions at the club’s London Colney base, according to football.london.

JUST IN: Man Utd boss Ralf Rangnick slammed as an ‘imposter’ and a ‘shambles’

It will be interesting to see whether he can successfully adapt to the role over the coming months, with Arsenal set to lose a number of existing options in the position between now and the start of next season.

The likes of Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah are yet to extend their current deals, which are set to expire in the summer as things stand.

They are widely expected to leave on free transfers when the window re-opens in July after making little to no progress in talks with Arsenal’s hierarchy since the beginning of the campaign.

Meanwhile, the Gunners have already lost the services of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who joined Barcelona on a permanent basis at the end of last month.

DON’T MISS

The situation could potentially leave Folarin Balogun as the club’s only contracted striker unless Martinelli is able to make the position his own.

He could help Arsenal to avoid spending a lucrative fee on a new first-choice marksman if he warms to his new role and proves his worth as a genuine striking option in the near future.

Club legend Paul Merson recently insisted that Martinelli could thrive in a central position if he is given opportunities to shine as his side’s main attacking outlet over the coming months.

“You can’t rely on Alexandre Lacazette to get you goals, I would play Martinelli there,” wrote Merson in his column for the Daily Star earlier this month.

FOLLOW OUR NEW DAILY EXPRESS SPORT INSTAGRAM PAGE

“Take a chance on him. He’s very lively. Very quick. Defenders don’t like that. If he gets away from you, he’s in. He’s bright, and he’s a good finisher.

“He could be the superstar Arsenal are waiting for, and they play through the lines, they play delicate little balls that he thrives on. Give him a go.”

Martinelli has registered 70 first-team appearances for Arsenal since joining the club from Brazilian side Ituano back in 2019 for a fee in the region of £6million.

He is yet to win his first senior international cap for Brazil but has previously represented his country at under-23 level on three occasions, most recently in July of last year.

18+ Terms apply. See tomorrow’s paper for your voucher.