Why Gabriel Martinelli got angry at Eddie Nketiah in Arsenal defeat at Everton
Arsenal’s impressive run of success this season was interrupted with a subpar performance against Everton on Saturday. The Toffees employed a style similar to that of their manager Sean Dyche, putting relentless pressure on Arsenal and utilizing a direct approach, which disrupted the Gunners’ play.
According to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, this strategy was effective in throwing his team off balance.
“From our side disappointment because we didn’t get the result that we wanted,” he said when describing the display in his post-match press conference.
“The performance doesn’t reflect what we’ve been doing especially in two phases – one, when they were really direct and we struggled to control that type of game and get back to the game that we wanted to play.”
It’s important to note that Eddie Nketiah has been a key factor in Arsenal’s success this season and their current standing in the Premier League title race.
The 23-year-old has exceeded expectations in the past month by scoring crucial goals against West Ham, Brighton, and Manchester United, putting the Gunners in their strongest position to win a league title in 20 years.
While Eddie Nketiah has been in excellent form recently, a debate has arisen over whether Gabriel Jesus will regain his starting spot when he returns from injury. The Brazilian striker had gone 11 matches without scoring, leading some to suggest that Nketiah should be the primary center forward for the rest of the season.
However, in football, a player’s value can become more apparent when they are not available. This was evident for Arsenal on Saturday.
With Arsenal facing a compact back four, they needed movement up front to force Conor Coady and James Tarkowski out of their comfort zones. However, this was lacking against Everton. Nketiah, who usually operates like Jesus, buzzing around the front line, found himself mainly stationed in the center of the pitch.
The one time he moved away from his central position, he was able to disrupt the Everton defense, leading to a great chance for Martin Odegaard, which was unfortunately missed.
This may have been excusable if Nketiah had been as lethal as he has been in recent weeks. However, having created a great opportunity for himself in the first half, he missed it, much to the frustration of Gabriel Martinelli, who was waiting in the corner for a cutback with his arms extended.
It was an off day for the entire team, so it is probably unfair to single out Nketiah for criticism. Saturday’s match at Goodison Park was, however, a timely reminder of what Jesus has to offer for those who have forgotten his value in his absence.
Why Gabriel Martinelli got angry at Eddie Nketiah in Arsenal defeat at Everton
