A Clearer Picture

Off the field movement has continued at Arsenal over the past week with the contract extension of Martinelli, discussions over Guendouzi’s future, Nketiah’s red card, and talks of Aubameyang’s contract. With the Premier League about half way through its return, the season is slowly coming to end in the coming weeks which means a lot of planning is set to take place in preparation for next year.

2 days after re-signing Bukayo Saka, Arsenal announced the extension of another prospect’s contract: Gabriel Martinelli. This came just 1 year to the day after Martinelli signed for Arsenal from Brazilian lower league side Ituarno. The youngster was initially intended to play in the u23s at the start of the 2019/20 campaign but impressive performances in training and a goal on his non-competitive debut against Colorado Rapids in pre-season forced him into the senior squad. The loans of Eddie Nketiah and Emile Smith Rowe helped free up minutes for Martinelli who played a starring role in Arsenal’s EFL Cup and Europa League campaigns. Scoring against Liverpool in the cup and Chelsea in the league, the now 19 year old has notched up an impressive 10 goals and 4 assists in 26 appearances and it’s no wonder Arsenal have sought to tie up the Brazilian on an improved deal in order to hold onto the youngster. Martinelli has featured as both a left winger and a striker this season showing glimpses of Alexis Sanchez’s South American work rate and tenacity as well as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s poacher’s instinct, whilst also proving a dangerous target for new left back Kieran Tierney’s whipped crosses when they played together in the cup competitions. The extension is thought to be a four year deal with an option for a fifth, tying down one of the Premier League’s brightest prospects.

A looming problem over the club the last week or two has been Matteo Guendouzi. The young midfielder has been left out of the match day squad for Arsenal’s last five games, despite starting both games following the resumption of the football season, against Manchester City and Brighton. Arteta has since had Guendouzi training alone with a fitness coach away from the first team squad indicating that he is no longer in Arsenal’s first team plans. Guendouzi has had a number of disciplinary issues since Arteta joined, and more before that, with an altercation with Brighton’s Neil Maupay after their game on June 20th seemingly sealing his fate. It has been made clear by the Arsenal Head Coach on a number of occasions that a change in attitude and a change in culture is needed at the club and if players don’t buy into his methods then they are expendable. The Guendouzi issue has highlighted this drive for change by Arteta and perhaps what has been most damaging for the youngster is the way Arsenal’s other young prospects have taken their opportunities and conducted themselves. Whilst he is a different style of midfield player, Joe Willock has looked hungry and eager to learn under Arteta and this has been rewarded with appearances in each of Arsenal’s games since the restart. Willock has become a dependable substitute in a number of roles, providing a goal against Southampton and an assist against Wolves. Willock has shown the type of commitment Arteta is looking for whilst Guendouzi now looks destined to leave the club this summer despite his potential on the pitch.

(Photo: REUTERS)

In the aftermath of the frustrating 1-1 draw at home to Leicester on Tuesday night there has been much discussion over Eddie Nketiah’s red card and VAR more generally. Nketiah came off the bench in the 71st minute, instructed to make a nuisance of himself and pressure Leicester defenders on the ball as Arsenal sought to hold onto their lead. The forward was sent off a couple of minutes later as he looked to tap a loose ball around James Justin but instead collided with the Leicester right back as Nketiah’s studs went into Justin’s lower leg. Referee Chris Kavanagh initially gave Nketiah a yellow card for the foul but after consulting with VAR officials and viewing the incident on the pitch-side monitor he upgraded it to a red card. To the letter of the law it is a red card and Arsenal’s appeal has since rightfully been rejected, however it does seem harsh that he’ll miss Arsenal’s league games against Tottenham and Liverpool as well as the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City. Whilst it’s difficult to argue against Nketiah’s sending off, the following night James Tarkowski appeared to make a similar, if not worse, challenge on Jarrod Bowen in the West Ham vs Burnley game which was not reviewed at all by VAR. This lack of consistency is something many fans have been frustrated with throughout VARs existence with it heavily influencing the results of matches and consequently league positions. One can only hope that the new operational control of VAR by FIFA will help to iron out some of these issues.

With Bukayo Saka signing a new contract extension last week, Arsenal fans now turn their attention to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to do the same. The Gabonese forward has scored 20 goals in 32 league games, two behind the league’s top scorer Jamie Vardy, and has become only the second Arsenal player to score 20+ league goals in consecutive seasons – alongside Thierry Henry. Aubameyang has been one of Europe’s deadliest strikers over the last 10 years at St Etienne, Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal and losing him would be a big blow as any club would struggle to replace his goals. Should Barcelona or Real Madrid come knocking it would be difficult to deny Aubameyang of his dream to play at either of those clubs but regardless Arsenal should be working hard to tie him down for another few years. James Olley has suggested that Aubameyang has requested a 3 year, 250k per week deal in order to stay and given the current market and Aubameyang’s skillset, there’s no question he should be offered the deal. There are some question marks over his age, 31, but we have a direct comparison in the Premier League in Aubameyang’s golden boot rival Jamie Vardy, 33, who has not slowed down despite his game revolving around pace in his first few years in the league. What Aubameyang and Vardy both have is superb instinct when the ball is in and around the penalty box and this won’t slow down with age. Another bonus to keeping Aubameyang at the club is that he can help further the development of youngsters like Nketiah, Martinelli and Saka as well as giving players like Pepe more confidence. All in all, if there is a way for Arsenal to extend Aubameyang’s contract, they should.

The picture at Arsenal has become clearer over the past few weeks with greater guarantee over the existing group of players for next season. Extending Martinelli’s contract is another boost for next season and Arsenal will be hoping to extend Aubameyang’s contract as soon as possible. It seems Guendouzi will be off in the summer with Arteta sending a very clear message about what he expects from players at Arsenal and his aims on changing the club culture are showing signs of progress. In the short term, Arsenal will be without Eddie Nketiah for the next 3 games which will place a greater reliance on Alexandre Lacazette and give Arteta more of an idea of whether he wants to keep or sell the Frenchman come the summer. What is most promising, is that the picture for Arteta seems to be getting clearer.

Adam Perry - 10/07/2020