Sell or Stick? Martinelli’s Off-Night Puts Arsenal’s Title Nerve to the Test

Arsenal got the job done, but let’s not pretend this was champagne football. Against a Wolves side propping up the table, the Gunners needed a slice of fortune on 70 minutes when a teasing Bukayo Saka corner cannoned off the inside of the post, onto Sam Johnstone’s back and in. Wolves levelled on 90, only for Arsenal to snatch it 2-1 four minutes later. Three points banked, sure. A statement performance? Not even close.

Martinelli’s malaise on the left

For all the huffing and puffing, Arsenal’s left flank never lit the touchpaper. Gabriel Martinelli endured a forgettable outing and made way just before the hour for Leandro Trossard. The numbers tell the tale: four efforts and not one on target, only two passes into the final third, a big chance spurned, and his only attempted dribble snuffed out. He completed 12 of 18 passes (67%) across 57 minutes and won three of five ground duels. That’s not the output of a winger stamping his authority on a title race.

Meanwhile, Viktor Gyökeres had one of those evenings where nothing stuck up top, and Saka remained the likeliest source of danger. But it was the left side that repeatedly ran aground, too slow in thought and too predictable in execution.

Time for Arteta to be ruthless?

Let’s be blunt: if Arsenal are serious about ending their Premier League drought – and remember, this is a club still chasing its first Champions League crown – they can’t carry passengers. Based on current form, Martinelli shouldn’t be starting, and if a decent offer lands in January, Arsenal should take it. Trossard might not be electric, but he’s efficient, clever, and decisive. Add in summer arrival Noni Madueke, who can play off that side, and the option of Eberechi Eze drifting left from central areas, and the depth chart doesn’t exactly flatter the Brazilian right now.

There’ll be hand-wringing about January being a tough window, but elite teams make elite decisions. The commercial winds are shifting too – with the Visit Rwanda sleeve arrangement reportedly ending – and Arsenal look primed for a bit of mid-season reshaping if it strengthens the title push.

What the numbers and the noise say

Per FotMob, Martinelli’s line reads like a shrug: 57 minutes, 32 touches (five in the box), four shots, zero on target, one big chance missed, and a 6.4 match rating (data correct as of 13/12/2025). That mirrors the eye test: busy but blunt.

The fanbase didn’t hold back on X, either. The mood music? Enough is enough. A chunk of supporters called for Trossard to start permanently, some pushed for a January sale, and more than a few suggested Martinelli shouldn’t see the XI again until his form turns. Stiff, yes—unfair? Not after this one.

Arteta’s next move

Mikel Arteta’s side extended their cushion at the top to five points, even with Manchester City holding a game in hand, but this was a reminder of how thin the margins are. Prioritise end product, pick the in-form players, and don’t be sentimental. If an opportunity arises to cash in on a 24-year-old Brazil international who’s plateaued, you at least answer the phone.

For now, Trossard must keep the shirt. Martinelli, signed from Ituano back in 2019 and once hailed as the next big thing from Guarulhos, needs a reset – or a new postcode.

Pundit’s verdict

This wasn’t the statement thrashing many expected against the league’s strugglers. Arsenal nicked it late and that’s fine – title winners often do. But the left wing can’t remain a cul-de-sac. Sell in January if the price is right, reinvest smartly, and keep the momentum rolling. If you fancy weighing that up against the odds, have a look at the latest markets on the best betting sites – but the football logic here is simple enough: play your sharpest tools.

Arsenal are a powerhouse still chasing Europe’s biggest prize. Nights like this get you closer to the trophy; nights like Martinelli’s remind you why evolution never stops.