As Arsenal’s injuries continue to pile up, Mikel Arteta can at least breathe a sigh of relief that Gabriel Martinelli is fit and firing.
Martinelli was a rare bright spark for Arsenal against Shakhtar Donetsk in what was a largely turgid and tepid performance.
Arteta promised afterwards his side will be “flying” for Liverpool on Sunday, and he will be confident that Martinelli will be.
The winger struggled early in the season but there are signs he is now getting back to his best.
He looked fresher than anybody else on that pitch ... he had another gear, added another level of threat
It was his strike that led to Shakhtar goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk’s own goal just before the half-hour mark, which was enough to secure Arsenal a 1-0 win.
Prior to that, Martinelli had been giving Shakhtar right-back Yukhym Konoplya a torrid time, turning him inside out on more than one occasion.
The Brazilian was playing with the confidence that he had shown before the international break, when he found the net in successive Premier League games against Leicester and Southampton.
A calf issue while Martinelli was away with Brazil forced him to be on the bench for last Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth and his bright cameo was only dampened by his inability to finish Arsenal’s best chance in that game.
“He looked really sharp, he looked really fresh, fresher than anybody else on that pitch,” said Arteta after Shakhtar.
“You noticed that against Bournemouth, you could tell that was different. He had another gear, he added another level of threat, he started the game really well and he had a great performance today.”
With Arsenal sweating on the fitness of Bukayo Saka on the other flank ahead of Sunday’s game against Liverpool, the form of Martinelli is crucial.
He may have to carry the pressure of being their biggest weapon out wide, with both Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling failing to catch the eye against Shakhtar.
Martinelli gives Arsenal a directness and drive they otherwise lack, and that will be even more important against Liverpool.
The Gunners have struggled to dominate games like that usually do without Martin Odegaard in midfield and so hitting Liverpool on the counter with pace may prove to be their best solution.
Martinelli has an impressive record against Liverpool, scoring three times in his last four Premier League games against them.
He has routinely had joy against Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, exposing his defensive frailties.
Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Kloop frequently hailed Martinelli after Liverpool encounters and Arsenal will hope Arne Slot is doing the same after Sunday.
Martinelli had a tough last season, scoring just six Premier League goals, but the year before he was Arsenal’s top scorer with 15.
At that time, Martinelli was keeping pace with Saka as the two developed. But more recently he has been left behind.
Saka has taken his game to another level and the challenge for Martinelli is to deliver the same from the other flank.
Liverpool on Sunday - especially if Arsenal are without Saka - would be the perfect moment for Martinelli to show he is truly back to his best.
