‘Martinelli will spoil training ground if continuously benched’ – Adebayor sounds alarm to Arteta
Togolese football great Emmanuel Adebayor has sounded a warning to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta over his handling of winger Gabriel Martinelli, insisting that the Brazilian’s limited game time could quickly become a dressing-room problem.
Martinelli’s 93rd-minute flick over Gianluigi Donnarumma rescued a point against Manchester City at the weekend, underlining his value to the side.
However, the 24-year-old has started only two of Arsenal’s six games this season as Arteta prioritises new signings Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke.
Adebayor believes such a situation needs careful management to avoid player frustration spilling over.
“I think that’s where man management becomes very important because you have to be talking to all these players to keep them happy all the time even knowing that they’re on the bench,” Adebayor told Premier League Productions.
He compared Martinelli’s predicament to his own early years at Arsenal, saying: “When I was on the bench at Arsenal, I knew that I had Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Robin van Persie in front of me, but it was not easy because every weekend I’m in his (Wenger’s) office telling him ‘I’m here to play, I have to play.’”
Adebayor warned that without a clear plan, Arsenal risk losing Martinelli’s focus and morale. “Martinelli, I think in a couple of weeks we will lose him because if he stays on the bench after this game the head will start going, then the body will follow, then he will spoil the whole training ground.”
With Madueke ruled out for two months with a knee injury, Arteta could be forced to restore Martinelli to the starting line-up, offering him a chance to reclaim his place.
