Paul Merson has urged Arsenal to play Gabriel Martinelli up front for the rest of the season, claiming the Brazilian could ultimately save the club £70 million.
Mikel Arteta only has two senior strikers to call upon in Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette, after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang left the club to join Barcelona at the end of the transfer window.
The Gunners failed to sign a replacement for their former captain with reported target Dusan Vlahovic opting to join Juventus, leaving them with Nketiah and Lacazette who have only scored a combined three Premier League goals this term.
Both strikers are in the last six months of their respective deals with the north London club, and will be able to leave on free transfers in the summer.
Merson has called for Martinelli, who usually operates on the left wing and has scored four times in the top flight this season, to be to given the opportunity to spearhead the Gunners’ attack.
“If I were Arteta, I’d start playing Martinelli up front," he told Sportskeeda.
“Arsenal could spend a lot of money on a striker, but the player they’re looking for might already be at the club.
“Martinelli is lively and quick – he has what it takes. He should get a run till the end of the season, and might save Arsenal £70 million.”
Arsenal will no doubt be in the market for a striker in the summer, but the kind of quality the club can attract may hinge on whether they can finish in the top four and secure Champions League football.
Next up for the sixth placed Gunners is a trip to Wolves on Thursday.
