Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke has delivered a stern ultimatum to Mikel Arteta, warning that failure to bench the €85M-rated Gabriel Martinelli could jeopardize the manager’s job before February. The club’s recent 2-0 loss to West Ham intensified scrutiny, with Martinelli’s lack of confidence evident in his limited season contributions.
Despite Martinelli’s return from a six-match injury hiatus, his impact against West Ham was underwhelming, struggling against the opponent’s solid defense. In contrast, Reiss Nelson, described as a “game changer” by teammate Eddie Nketiah, offers an alternative.
The defeat against West Ham is compounded by critiques from various football figures, including Thierry Henry and Martin Odegard, singling out underperforming players. The contrast in performance is notable, with Nelson praised for his past impactful contributions.
Nelson, characterized by direct wing play and technical prowess, presents a potential solution. His statistical promise, combined with an ability to create opportunities through intelligent passing and dribbling, offers an alternative to Martinelli. Suggestions are arising that Arteta should consider starting Nelson in the upcoming match against Fulham, providing an opportunity for him to showcase his abilities and potentially influence the team positively. The spotlight is now on Arteta’s strategic decisions as the pressure mounts following Kroenke’s warning.
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