LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 09: Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Arsenal FC at London Stadium on December 09, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Arsenal Vs West Ham: 5 things we learned – Gabriel Martinelli, superstar
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 09: Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal scores his sides first goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Arsenal FC at London Stadium on December 09, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
4. Gabriel Martinelli is a star
Sometimes, you just have a feeling. When you watch a player, you can just tell. And with Gabriel Martinelli, the warning signs — very positive warning signs — are quite evident every time he takes to the pitch. He is a star in the making.
On this occasion, his first start in the Premier League, playing out of what seems to be his best position, Martinelli did not actually do that much. At the hour-mark, only Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had fewer touches of the ball, the Brazilian usually conspiring to lose the ball when under pressure from a West Ham defender. And then, in a one-touch instant, he turned the game on its head.
Martinelli became the youngest player in Arsenal history to score on their league debut. His goal was a wonderful illustration of his goalscoring knack, not delaying a second to slide his finish into the far bottom corner from the edge of the penalty area. He is the second-highest scorer in all competitions and was the catalyst for the Gunners’ first victory in over two months. He is a superstar.
Arsenal were last winning a match in the Premier League. The two-month period that saw them play just one team of real note, Leicester City, is their worst run of form in 42 years. They sacked their manager and saw no change. They changed tactics players, captains, everything, and could not break out of their funk. Until now. Nine minutes and three excellent goals saw the Gunners come from behind<a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/12/09/arsenal-vs-west-ham-5-things-learned-gabriel-martinelli-superstar/2/"https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50625463"> to beat West Ham United 3-1</a> for their first victory since 2011 when they trailed at half-time.</p>
<h2><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/12/09/arsenal-vs-west-ham-5-things-learned-gabriel-martinelli-superstar/2/"https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/pain-in-the-arsenal-podcast-on-arsenal-fc/id1314514440?ign-mpt=uo%3D4%26amp%3Buo%3D4&mt=2%22>Find the latest episode of the Pain in the Arsenal Podcast here — A Christmas Miracle</a></h2>
<p>Here are five things we learned.</p>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-96259" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/12/09/arsenal-vs-west-ham-5-things-learned-gabriel-martinelli-superstar/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1192939928-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 09: Freddie Ljungberg, Interim Manager of Arsenal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Arsenal FC at London Stadium on December 09, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)</p>
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<h4>5. Freddie rings the changes</h4>
<p>When Unai Emery was sacked on a Friday morning with a match just two days later, it was always going to be difficult for interim head coach <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/12/09/arsenal-vs-west-ham-5-things-learned-gabriel-martinelli-superstar/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=freddie+ljungberg%22>Freddie Ljungberg</a> to make many sweeping changes. He even admitted as much, revealing that the limited training sessions restricted the number and extent of changes that he could enact.</p>
<p>But for this match, his third as head coach, Ljungberg swung the axe and rotated through his squad. David Luiz, Alexandre Lacazette, Sead Kolasinac and Joe Willock were all dropped, while Nicolas Pepe made his first start and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang moved up-front with Mesut Ozil in behind.</p>
<p>Based on the first-half showing, Ljungberg’s changes did not work. The play was still horribly slow, there was a lack of injection and intensity, in and out of possession, chances were difficult to create, and there was very little to be positive about. It was nice to see Ljungberg enact change, but those changes need to have an impact.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/12/09/arsenal-vs-west-ham-5-things-learned-gabriel-martinelli-superstar/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 4. Gabriel Martinelli is a star </a>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 09: Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal scores his sides first goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Arsenal FC at London Stadium on December 09, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)</p>
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<h4>4. Gabriel Martinelli is a star</h4>
<p>Sometimes, you just have a feeling. When you watch a player, you can just tell. And with<a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/12/09/arsenal-vs-west-ham-5-things-learned-gabriel-martinelli-superstar/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=gabriel+martinelli%22> Gabriel Martinelli</a>, the warning signs — very positive warning signs — are quite evident every time he takes to the pitch. He is a star in the making.</p>
<p>On this occasion, his first start in the Premier League, playing out of what seems to be his best position, Martinelli did not actually do that much. At the hour-mark, only Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had fewer touches of the ball, the Brazilian usually conspiring to lose the ball when under pressure from a West Ham defender. And then, in a one-touch instant, he turned the game on its head.</p>
<p>Martinelli became the youngest player in Arsenal history to score on their league debut. His goal was a wonderful illustration of his goalscoring knack, not delaying a second to slide his finish into the far bottom corner from the edge of the penalty area. He is the second-highest scorer in all competitions and was the catalyst for the Gunners’ first victory in over two months. He is a superstar.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/12/09/arsenal-vs-west-ham-5-things-learned-gabriel-martinelli-superstar/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 3. Move the ball </a>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 09: Lucas Torreira of Arsenal is closed down by Felipe Anderson of West Ham United during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Arsenal FC at London Stadium on December 09, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)</p>
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<h4>3. Move the ball</h4>
<p>I wrote the following after the loss to Brighton and Hove Albion. The very same comments, though with different players and periods of play, relate to this performance too:</p>
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<blockquote class="left ampstart-"><em>“I wrote before the match that Arsenal needed to prove that they can move the ball quickly, both by being direct with long passes from back to front to expose defences and with quick, one-touch combinations to break out of high presses and create openings in the final third. There was very little of that, here.</em>
<p><em>This is not something to pin the blame on particular players. Yes, those passing the ball were ball, especially Sokratis and Hector Bellerin, but they also weren’t provided sufficient options to play forward passes into. Similarly, when the front three did get the opportunity to drive at Brighton’s backline, they caused problems, but they also stood 50 yards away from the ball, meaning that any pass into them was a near-impossible one.</em></p>
<p><em>In possession, Arsenal played without tempo, speed and accuracy. They invited Brighton to press high up the pitch, invariably failed to play through it when they did, and lacked any semblance of control of the match as a result. It is not a coincidence that when they got going in the second half, they played quickly. The Gunners can do it. They proved it here. But they now must replicate it for 90 minutes.”</em></p></blockquote>
<p>Arsenal simply do not move the ball quick enough. By half-time, they had 65% possession and just four touches in the penalty area. The reason? West Ham were not pulled out of position by the Gunners’ passing. It is a major, major issue.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/12/09/arsenal-vs-west-ham-5-things-learned-gabriel-martinelli-superstar/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 2. Goodbye Granit </a>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 09: Granit Xhaka of Arsenal embraces Freddie Ljungberg, Interim Manager of Arsenal as he leaves the pitch following an injury during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Arsenal FC at London Stadium on December 09, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)</p>
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<h4>2. Goodbye Granit</h4>
<p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/12/09/arsenal-vs-west-ham-5-things-learned-gabriel-martinelli-superstar/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=granit+xhaka%22>Granit Xhaka’s</a> return to the Arsenal team was handled very well. After being stripped of the captaincy and missing from the squad for a month, it seemed as though his north London career might be nearing an end. But first Unai Emery and Freddie Ljungberg reinstated him in the starting XI and the supporters were willing to welcome him back into the fold. On this occasion, we saw why that was a mistake.</p>
<p>Irrespective of the personal arguments surrouding Xhaka, there are basic footballing ones that prove he should not be anywhere near the team. Horribly dependent on his left foot, too slow to move the ball, painfully unathletic to cut off counter-attacks, and now, a new trend: hiding in central midfield.</p>
<p>Xhaka pretends to show for the ball. He comes short and ‘asks’ for the ball. He also knows there is a defender on his back and he will never actually receive the ball. He is playing scared, and Matteo Guendouzi, in a ten-minute cameo, illustrated this, immediately demanding the ball at every opportunity. Quite simply, Xhaka is not good enough. And if you think he is, you do not know football.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/12/09/arsenal-vs-west-ham-5-things-learned-gabriel-martinelli-superstar/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 1. This is the Nicolas Pepe </a>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 09: Nicolas Pepe of Arsenal celebrates after scoring his sides second goal with Saed Kolasinac during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Arsenal FC at London Stadium on December 09, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)</p>
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<h4>1. This is the Nicolas Pepe</h4>
<p>Finally. A club-record signing is meant to produce match-winning moments. Thus far,<a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/12/09/arsenal-vs-west-ham-5-things-learned-gabriel-martinelli-superstar/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=nicolas+pepe%22> Nicolas Pepe</a> had only done so on one occasion, two brilliant freekicks to rescue a victory against Vitoria SC. This was the second match that he inspired the win, and this time, he did it open play.</p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia">
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<p>His goal was the quintessential inverted winger strike: standing up the defender on the edge of the area, shifting the ball quickly inside onto his stronger left foot, and then whipping a vicious, curling shot into the far corner past a stranded goalkeeper. Just brilliant. He then followed that up with a lovely assist, clipping a cross over the top of the West Ham defence that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang volleyed home for his customary strike.</p>
<p>Pepe’s overall play was also much improved. He was Arsenal’s most dangerous player in the first half — at the 40-minute mark, he was the only player to have completed a dribble, and he had done so twice — and looked the most likely to make something happen. But then, unlike in other appearances, he actually did make something happen.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Arsenal Vs West Ham: Player ratings" data-url="https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/12/09/arsenal-vs-west-ham-player-ratings-hello-nicolas-pepe/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/12/09/arsenal-vs-west-ham-5-things-learned-gabriel-martinelli-superstar/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/12/09/arsenal-vs-west-ham-player-ratings-hello-nicolas-pepe/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Arsenal Vs West Ham: Player ratings </a> </div>
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<p>This is the Nicolas Pepe that Arsenal thought they were signing in the summer. Long may it continue.</p><!—pageview_candidate—></p>">
