Arteta lauds ‘exceptional’ Arsenal star; will wait to make Laca decision
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has praised the development of youngster Gabriel Martinelli and has reiterated the clubs decision to wait until the end of the season before sorting out Alexandre Lacazette’s contract situation.
Martinelli has stepped un recent months after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s exclusion from the Arsenal squad and his subsequent move to Barcelona.
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He capped off a superb team goal in the win over Watford last weekend with a clinical finish and his manager was quick to praise his recent performances.
“He’s shown big signs of where he’s moving and I think his contribution all round in his game has been exceptional,” said the Spaniard.
“Gabi’s playing a different position because Auba played more as a nine in his last few months. He certainly has the capacity to score goals and be a threat in the final third.”
Martinelli’s relationship with Kieran Tierney down Arsenal’s left-flank has also improved recently and Arteta believes that is simply down to more game-time together.
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“Kieran has to overlap when it’s the moment to overlap and he has to be unpredictable.
“That is growing because the more they experience match situations together that chemistry will click more naturally.”
Martinelli could be the only striker left at the club in the summer if Lacazette doesn’t sign a new deal. Eddie Nketiah is also set to depart.
French forward Lacazette is another who has stepped up his game since the turn of the year but his manager has confirmed any talks of a new deal will have to wait until the summer.
“At the end of the season when we know where we are, we are going to make a decision together. We agreed the decision is to do it in the summer and that’s when we are going to do it.”
Arsenal take on Leicester on Sunday and Arteta has provided an update on the fitness of right-back Takehiro Tomiyasu and midfielder Emile Smith Rowe.
“We’re still assessing Tomiyasu because we’re taking some time to protect him and Emile looks like he’s going to be available.”
