Arsenal gave a 4-0 thrashing of Belgian side Standard Liege yesterday, and all the talk was about teenager Gabriel Martinelli, who scored Arsenal’s first two goals just 131 seconds apart. It was the second time Martinelli bagged a brace in his past three matches, as he also scored twice in Arsenal’s 5-0 rout over Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup last month.
He’s yet to feature in a league fixture, and if he keeps producing like this, Arsenal manager Unai Emery will have no choice but to give him a chance. The timing is certainly right, as forward Alexandre Lacazette continues rehabbing from an ankle injury.
“In every training he showed us his hunger to be with us,” Emery said of Martinelli.
“In pre-season he played in different positions, but above all he preferred playing on the left wing. But also he played as a right winger. I used him as a striker because in Brazil he played this position (centre forward).
“It’s not the best position for him, but the first thing in his mind is to help us and receive some minutes with us in the team. Tonight I think his performance and attitude was amazing.”
In addition to Lacazette, midfielder Emile Smith Rowe (concussion) and forward Bukayo Saka (cramp) are also unavailable when the Gunners host AFC Bournemouth on Sunday in a league fixture.
Switching over to Bournemouth, manager Eddie Howe will likely have winger Ryan Fraser back, with the Scot having recovered from his illness.
Defender Adam Smith (hamstring) and midfielder Dan Gosling (hip) are nearing return, but this match could come too soon for either to feature.
Finally,midfielder David Brooks (ankle), left-back Charlie Daniels (knee) and winger Junior Stanislas (knee) are the Cherries’ long term injury absentees.
Arsenal FC Starting XI Prediction at Manchester United
Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang Nicolas Pepe
Dani Ceballos
Lucas Torreira Granit Xhaka Matteo Guendouzi
Sead Kolasinac David Luiz Sokratis Ainsley Maitland-Niles
Bern Leno
AFC Bournemouth at Arsenal FC FYIs
Kickoff: Oct. 6, Emirates Stadium 2pm
Form Guide: Chelsea DWDDL AFC Bournemouth DWWLL
Google’s result probability: 66% Arsenal win, 19% draw, 15% Bournemouth victory
Prediction: Arsenal 2, AFC Bournemouth 1
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
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