17 Jan 2021 20:12:45
So question for all. What is Martinelli's best role? Is he ultimately our number 9 in waiting, or is he actually best playing in the wider role in the 3? I ask as I wonder if that will affect the thinking of the club when it comes to deciding whether to offer Lacca or Balogan a new contract at the end of the season. Second question is about Partey. Is he a DM to partner an AM, or is he in fact the box to box midfielder who needs a DM?
17 Jan 2021 20:59:13
I think martinelli is going to be one of those players that needs to be given a certain amount of freedom to roam across the front, from what I’ve seen he has a good footballing brain, great sense of awareness and skill for someone so young.
17 Jan 2021 21:23:55
Agree with 737, Martinelli is a free range striker. Let him run the channels and pop up where he's dangerous rather than holding him to the central striker role. I'd pair him with Laca because of Laca's support play, similar to how Alexis thrived off Giroud.
As for Partey I think he's at his best in a double pivot or a Ramsey-role b2b, both he and another midfielder together who can go forward and defend when their partner does the opposite.
17 Jan 2021 23:03:50
I must confess Wire, I always wanted us to sign Kondogbia for our CM role, and it was no shock when ATM went and signed him to replace Partey. I would think having both of them as our central midfield would be a formidable force IMO.
17 Jan 2021 23:20:00
Think Partey would partner Kante well tbh, would give a lot of freedom to whoever plays the 10 role. Martinelli for me doesn’t seem strong enough yet to play a 9, no chance of a long ball up to him with a big cb on his back, so LW for me Epping. Plus he has shown to have a real understanding with Tierney, but then again Tierney has linked with everyone really well that's played on the left.
18 Jan 2021 00:08:55
Partey and Bissouma = 😃 SY4.
18 Jan 2021 08:41:34
Martinelli's preference is to play on the LW and he cuts inside behind the full back rather than going down the outside. However, he has stated that he's more than happy to play anywhere across the front 3. His mentality and attitude fantastic and I hope that he can stay injury free. He was once asked if he aspired to be as good as Cristiano Ronaldo and he responded with "I can be better than Ronaldo". It's a bold statement but that's the attitude you want in your team. Young, hungry, enthusiastic and has already proven that he can play at the top level. He just needs a good run of games now and hopefully his body will allow him to do so. I'll probably get slated for making the CR7 comment because people get compared to him all the time but even the man himself has said that it's having that mentality which was key to his success. He wanted to better than everyone else and prove it everyday.
18 Jan 2021 09:43:13
Glenn I don’t think GM35 has the same ring to it as CR7 but if he turns out as good as him I’ll have a tattoo done just for you mate
Joking aside I am extremely excited about Martinelli, almost as excited as G62 gets about Callum.
18 Jan 2021 13:04:00
No you're right it doesn't and I don't expect to anyone for a long time to reach his level but it's great that the kid that mentality. Why aspire to be as good as others when you can be better? I'm confident he'll be a big part of Arsenal going forward and he can play anywhere across the front 3 (just like CR7) 😉. He now just needs a run of games and a couple of goals to get back in the swing of things.