Martinelli revival adds to Arsenal feelgood factor

The real significant story of the victory was the return to form and scoring of substitute Gabriel Martinelli.

Mon, 07 Oct, 2024 - 06:38

Nick Callow

Premier League: Arsenal 3 Southampton 1

Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz grabbed the glory with crucial goals and assists to extend Mikel Arteta’s best unbeaten run to 16 matches — seven of them in the past 21 days. The real significant story of the victory, however, was the return to form and scoring of substitute Gabriel Martinelli.

The Brazil forward scored the decisive goal after Havertz — who has pulled out of Germany’s squad for this week’s Nations League round of games — had cancelled out a first Southampton goal for Cameron Archer. Martinelli has scored or assisted in each of his last three league appearances, as many goal involvements as he had in his previous 20. His overall team contribution has been up to scratch but that lack of finishing and attacking productivity had cost him his place in the starting line-up.

Some were getting twitchy with the winger, who turned 23 this summer. Not manager Arteta nor Brazil coach Dorival Júnior, who has selected him for World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Peru.

“I’m really happy, really confident now and just trying to play my football again,” Martinelli said afterwards. “I was told to go out there, control the game, and try to take the game to the final third and create chances for us.

“It was a tough one, we showed our qualities. I think we did really well, we won the game so really happy. We have the international now; we have to go there and try to stay fit and think about the upcoming games. We’re ready and can’t wait until the Premier League is back again.”

Arteta will be pleased and relieved to hear his young winger talk and behave so positively after a testing run of form. The player himself was aware enough to deflect any praise to Arsenal’s main man Saka, who assisted both goals before scoring his side’s late third with the match already won.

Martinelli added: “We know when someone opens the ball up, we know the areas we need to go. It was an unbelievable ball from B, and I was there — a really good moment for me and a nice goal. I just tried to put it down, and I’m really happy with the goal.

“He’s a really nice guy as well so we’re really happy to have him here as one of the captains. He’s unbelievable, one of the best players in the world right now.”

How newly-promoted and winless Southampton could do with some of the Gunners’ feelgood factor. Returning ex-Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, a summer signing by the south-coast side, was moved to tears as he left the field with his name being loudly sung by the home fans.

That followed tears of anguish from Scotland striker Ross Stewart, who came off with a muscle problem only 26 minutes into his first start in nearly two injury-plagued years. Manager Russell Martin has enough to grapple with trying to find a way to re-establish his side in the top flight without another injury blow to a potentially important goalscorer in their relegation battle.

But his thoughts are only for the wellbeing of his player. "Ross has got a muscle injury, so we'll scan that. I'm absolutely gutted for him, he's worked so hard to come back.

"We just have to see how bad it is and then I know he'll attack it in the same way he does everything. It's hard for him to deal with but he has a huge resilience and character, so we'll have to go again and see how long he's going to be.

"His journey's not been easy either, in the lower leagues and up in Scotland. So, yeah, we will help him, we will support him. Our job is to help these players, especially the young guys and the guys who have not been here long, on their journey. We'll continue to try and do that."

ARSENAL: Raya 6; Calafiori 6 (Kiwior 90), Saliba 7, Gabriel 6, Partey 6 (Tomiyasu 84); Havertz 7, Jorginho 5 (Merino 61), Rice 6; Saka 8, Jesus 5 (Trossard 60), Sterling 5 (Martinelli 60).

Subs: Neto, Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri, Butler-Oyedeji

SOUTHAMPTON: Ramsdale 7, Suguwara 6 (Taylor, 90), Harwood-Bellis 6, Bednarek 7, Walker-Peters 6, Downes 6, Manning 6 (Onuachu 74), Aribo 6, Fernandes 7 (Armstrong 74), Stewart 5 (Archer 27), Dibling 6.

Subs: McCarthy, Lallana, Bree, Diaz, Ugochukwu.

Ref: Tony Harrington (6).

Att: 60,307