Is Time Running Out for Arsenal’s 24-Year-Old Winger?
Gabriel Martinelli, a former standout performer for Arsenal, is currently experiencing a challenging phase in his career. His influence has steadily declined since the 2023–24 season, and recent performances show that he is no longer as reliable or as dynamic as he once was. After peaking with a 15-goal league campaign during the 2022–23 season, the Brazilian international now struggles to impose himself consistently in matches. What was once a role defined by instinct, pace, and unpredictability has become more constrained, leaving him searching for ways to regain his previous form. Martinelli’s decline highlights how even talented players can be affected by tactical systems, squad evolution, and the demands of a manager who prioritizes structure over chaos.
Tactical Evolution at Arsenal
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal has shifted from a fast, counter-attacking style to a more controlled and structured approach. Martinelli thrived in situations where the team could quickly win the ball and attack in transition, using his speed and directness to exploit space behind defenses. Today, Arsenal focuses on possession, building from the back, and controlling the tempo, which limits the explosive opportunities Martinelli once relied on. With defenders often packed in narrow positions, his runs into the box are less effective, and he frequently ends up isolated on the wing. The reduction in open-field situations has forced him to adapt to tighter spaces and slower build-up play, which doesn’t suit his natural strengths. Over the past two seasons, this tactical evolution has clearly exposed the gap between his instinctive style and the structured demands of the team.
The Rise of Competition
Arsenal’s squad has grown deeper with the addition of new attacking talents Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke ahead of the 2025–26 season, while Leandro Trossard remains a contributor from previous years. These players provide versatility across the front line, increasing the competition for starting spots on the wings. Martinelli now faces the challenge of asserting himself in a lineup crowded with multiple capable attackers who fit Arteta’s tactical system. His decision-making in the final third has dipped, and he has often looked slower in possession, delaying passes or dribbles that allow defenses to reset. The intensified competition puts pressure on him to adapt quickly, as failing to stand out could see him relegated to a bench role.
Predictability and Loss of Edge in One-on-Ones
One of the most glaring issues in Martinelli’s recent performances is how predictable he has become. Once known for beating defenders with sharp acceleration and direct dribbles, he now frequently runs into crowded areas or cuts inside onto his stronger right foot without much success. Defenders have learned how to contain him, forcing him into safe passes instead of dangerous actions. This inability to consistently win one-on-one battles has dulled his impact as a winger and made Arsenal’s attack easier to defend against. At times, he even slows down promising attacks by hesitating on the ball, choosing to recycle possession rather than take on his marker, which kills the momentum his teammates create. That was evident both in preseason, when he regularly stalled transitions, and again against Liverpool last weekend, when he failed to spot Viktor Gyökeres’ run in a dangerous position, an opportunity that highlighted how his hesitation is hurting Arsenal in key attacking moments.
Tactical Discipline vs. Natural Instinct
Martinelli’s natural style, aggressive dribbling, direct runs, and spontaneous attacking have often clashed with Arteta’s tactical requirements. Arsenal’s system demands that wingers maintain positional discipline, track back, and recycle possession when needed, leaving less freedom for instinctive movement. The problem is not that Martinelli tracks back, because every Arsenal forward does, but that his attacking output has dried up compared to his peers. Others, like Bukayo Saka and Trossard, balance their defensive duties with consistent creativity and end product, while Martinelli has not managed to strike the same balance. This has led to a version of Martinelli that looks hesitant, muted, and less capable of generating the chaos that once made him so dangerous.
Match-Day Isolation
Martinelli’s effectiveness is further diminished in matches where Arsenal dominate possession against defensive setups. He frequently receives the ball wide, with two defenders quickly closing him down and minimal support from overlapping fullbacks. The use of inverted fullbacks strengthens central control but removes the overlapping runs that previously opened space for Martinelli. Often, he must recycle possession or attempt dribbles in crowded areas, limiting his attacking influence. This isolation, combined with his current predictability and inability to beat markers one-on-one, has left him struggling to impose himself in crucial moments, making him far less of a threat than he once was.
Conclusion
Martinelli’s struggles at Arsenal are no longer minor dips in form; they have become a serious problem that has persisted over the last few seasons. Tactical shifts, increased competition, predictability in his dribbling, and inconsistent output have exposed cracks in a once indispensable player. In a squad full of versatile attackers like Eze, Madueke, and Trossard, the margin for error is extremely small. If Martinelli cannot quickly rediscover the aggression and sharpness that once defined him, he risks being relegated to a bench role or even sold. Arsenal cannot afford to wait, and Martinelli must figure out how to deliver consistently or face the very real possibility of losing his place and potentially his future at the club
