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Darren Bent says Mikel Arteta has an ‘essential’ player who must start for Arsenal vs Bayern Munich
Darren Bent has now called for Mikel Arteta to make two crucial decisions when Arsenal face Bayern Munich in Germany tonight.
Mikel Arteta knows that tonight will be crucial not only to progress to an historic Champions League semi-final, but also because of the confidence any progression could bring.
Arsenal certainly aren’t out of the title race, even if many will now tell you that Manchester City have one hand on the Premier League trophy.
If Man City draw a game and Arsenal win, the superior goal difference of Arteta’s side will put them back on top.
Of course, Arsenal’s challenge will be to win all of their remaining games, including away trips to Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.
No easy task, but one that a title-winning side has to be able to navigate.
That being said, all of the focus right now is on Arsenal’s attempts to beat Bayern and qualify for a semi final against either Man City or Real Madrid.
And if Arteta perhaps got his team selection wrong against Aston Villa, he certainly can’t afford to do so again tonight.
Darren Bent demands that Mikel Arteta recalls Jorginho against Bayern tonight
That being said, Darren Bent has been having his say on who Arsenal should be starting on .
The pundit shared his opinion yesterday, saying Mikel Arteta needed to recall two crucial players, as well as returning Kai Havertz to the false nine.
He explained: “Do you know what? I am going to go with Martinelli. Listen, Trossard has done well, but I am going with Martinelli for the pace.”
“I am putting Kai Havertz back down as a false nine. At the weekend you saw him getting moved back to that midfield role.
“He did okay, but he has been doing a lot of his best work as the false number nine, so Martinelli down on the left, Kai Havertz down the middle and Saka on the right. There’s your three.
“What do you do in midfield? Jorginho, for me, has to play. Control possession, especially to silence that kind of Bayern crowd. For me, he has got to play. He is essential.”
Gabriel Martinelli is Arsenal’s secret weapon
Of course, it’s hard to argue with the merits of any of Bent’s suggestions, Arsenal need to be able to control the game against Bayern tonight, as well as possessing a threat on the break.
Gabriel Martinelli can be a secret weapon in that regard, a player who is still one of Europe’s best dribblers despite his quiet season.
Similarly, Jorginho has all the experience necessary for a game like this, the £12m-midfielder has had success in this situation before.
It would be harsh to drop Gabriel Jesus, he was still incredibly busy against Aston Villa despite not getting any reward.
But the Brazilian, alongside Leandro Trossard, could be invaluable for Arsenal off of the bench.
All that being said, Arsenal are said to be willing to sell an ‘enormous talent’ who has barely even had a mention before tonight’s game.