Gabriel Martinelli has been tipped to play as Arsenal’s next striker, and his poor dribbling statistics highlight that he would be able to succeed in the number nine role.
Arsenal finished the January transfer window with just two strikers at the club in Eddie Nketiah, and Alexandre Lacazette, but they have only scored three goals from open play in the Premier League season.
The Gunners may need to look for alternatives in the attacking position to ensure the club make a strong push for Champions League qualification heading into the final months of the season.
Martinelli is certainly an option having played at striker before, and he certainly has the potential to be a world-beater in the forward position in years ahead.
The Brazilian doesn’t perform a high volume of dribbles, and for that reason lacks productivity, but this is a trait that makes a striker elite.
The best forwards in the world often do not need to attempt many dribbles, as they position themselves so they can take the least amount of touches as possible before having a shot on goal.
Succeeding as a striker requires you to be smarter off the ball, rather than creative when in possession, and Martinelli’s low volume dribbling suggests that he is already on his way to thinking like a striker.
Robert Lewandowski is the best forward in the world currently, but he is never applauded for his dribbling stats. His positioning is generally close to the goal he will usually on require a small number of touches before attempting to shoot.
Martinelli has already played as a striker for Arsenal before, and he did prove as a success in this position during the 2019/20 season against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup, scoring a brace in an end-to-end 5-5 clash.
He played so well in this match that he was endorsed by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who described the 20-year-old as being an “Incredible striker.”
Martinelli has scored four goals in 14 Premier League games this season, which was the same amount as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in identical games before he departed the club for Barcelona, showing that the Brazilian has the pedigree to play in that position.
Arsenal’s failure to sign a striker in the January transfer window left the fans doubting the club’s ambitions, however, Robin van Persie ensured supporters they should worry as Martinelli could mirror his performances, the Dutchman said when Speaking on BT Sport as a pundit: “The moves he makes, he is always looking for space. I was playing on the wing at that age. With time he will get even better."
The 20-year-old has shown the qualities of being a forward, and his dribbling statistics certainly highlight that the direction he is heading, is to potentially be Arsenal’s next striker.
Make sure you have subscribed to The Arsenal Way and the Fan Brands team along with plenty of your football.london favourites will be producing daily Arsenal content for you to enjoy including match reactions, podcasts, football fun and interviews.
