Paul Merson thinks that Gabriel Martinelli should start through the middle at Arsenal for the remainder of the season.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s exit means that the Gunners have lost their main source of goals in recent years.
Whilst they will need to address that issue in the summer transfer market, for the remainder of the season, the club have predominantly entrusted Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah – both of whom are expected to follow Aubameyang through the exit door when their contracts expire in the summer – with the burden of finding the form needed to fire Arsenal to the Champions League.
Gunners legend Ian Wright has suggested that Mikel Arteta could play Nicolas Pepe more centrally after Aubameyang left the club.
Meanwhile, Wright’s former teammate Merson has backed Martinelli to star in the role.
Merson wrote in The Daily Star: “You can’t rely on Alexandre Lacazette to get you goals. I would play [Gabriel] Martinelli there.
“Take a chance on him. He’s very lively. Very quick. Defenders don’t like that. If he gets away from you, he’s in. He’s bright, and he’s a good finisher.
“He could be the superstar Arsenal are waiting for, and they play through the lines, they play delicate little balls that he thrives on. Give him a go.”
It’s certainly an option for Arteta to consider if the Gunners struggle for goals in the coming months, especially considering Lacazette has only found the net three times this season.
But it would be a lot of pressure on a young man’s shoulders with Arsenal in a race for the top four.