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‘Really missing him’… Michael Owen says £6m Arsenal player has struggled since Granit Xhaka left
Arsenal’s attack hasn’t been as fluid as it was last season.
The Gunners were one of the most irresistible attacking forces in the Premier League last term, they scored 88 goals across the season and they were a joy to watch.
However, this term, the goal tap has been turned off. More than halfway through the campaign, they have just 37 goals this time around, and it looks unlikely that Arsenal will get close to the 88 they scored last term.
One player who hasn’t hit the heights this season is Gabriel Martinelli, the Brazilian has just two Premier league goals to his name in 18 appearances this term, and he’s nowhere near being on track to better the 15 he bagged last term.
Speaking on , Michael Owen has been discussing Martinelli’s dip in form, and he’s theorised that the Brazilian isn’t playing as well this season because he is missing Granit Xhaka after he was sold this summer.
Martinelli is missing Xhaka
Owen shared his verdict on the attacker.
“I think it’s fair to say that Martinelli is struggling. Arsenal like to attack down the right more, and another big thing in this Arsenal team is that they’ve lost a player in Granit Xhaka who fed Martinelli a lot of the balls. We have some clips here just to show the fact that Martinelli is really missing him. Xhaka always looked for Martinelli with these through balls. As soon as Xhaka gets the ball, Martinelli came alive, they had that link-up, this season he doesn’t have that and you have Arsenal down the right side more.
Havertz isn’t the same
Owen makes a great point here.
Martinelli is a player that uses his pace so well and he’s at his best when he’s feeding off balls in behind like Xhaka used to provide.
Now, with Kai Havertz in the team, he’s not getting the same type of service. The German doesn’t play those through balls anywhere near as often or as effectively, and it’s no coincidence that Martinelli is struggling since Havertz came to Arsenal.
This is a problem that the Gunners need to find a solution to as soon as possible.