Emmanuel Adebayor has warned Mikel Arteta that his Arsenal team could be ‘spoiled’ in a just a couple weeks if he continues to bench one player.
This comes after the Gunners drew 1-1 with Manchester City on Sunday in what could prove to be am early blow to the chances of winning the Premier League.
Arteta was made to pay for picking an overly cautious starting XI for the clash at the Emirates, but super subs Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Martinelli combined to salvage a point in injury time.
Martinelli has started just two of Arsenal’s opening six games of the season, notably coming off the bench to score and assist against Athletic Club last week before grabbing the late equaliser against City.
In light of recent contributions, plenty of fans and pundits believe the Brazilian should be the first choice left-winger ahead of Leandro Trossard, Eze and Noni Madueke.
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And Adebayor concedes that Arteta has a difficult task keeping his squad content but fears he risks souring the upbeat atmosphere at London Colney if the 24-year-old is not returned to the line-up immediately.
‘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,’ the former Gunners striker told Premier League Productions.
‘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 [Arsene Wenger’s] office telling him “I’m here to play, I have to play”.
‘This is when you need a manager that can calm the situation down. We have never seen Arteta go through those moments, and I think this is the right year for him to go through this.
‘“Manager, I want to play. Gaffer, listen I’m not here to sit on the bench. You didn’t buy me to be on the bench. I’m here to play because I want to win Ballon d’Or. I want to be the top goal scorer. I want to be the best player in the league”.
Should Gabriel Martinelli start for Arsenal
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Yes
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No
‘We all have our individual things in our mind whether you like it or not. But at the end of the day, we put into the collective.
‘We have to think of what I can do, what I’m going to bring into the team. If you’re on the bench, it’s hard.
‘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.’
Speaking after the City draw, Martinelli firmly stated that he did not want to be a bench player but said he trusted his manager’s plan.
‘I work for those moments. I leave [selection] for the gaffer, he knows what he does. I just do my best to help this football club,’ the forward told Match of the Day.
‘Of course, I don’t want to be on the bench. I want to play 90 minutes every single game but Arteta knows what he does, he’s the gaffer and everyone trusts him. We’re really happy with him.’
It will be curious to see how Arteta lines his side up when Arsenal take on Port Vale in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, before travelling to Newcastle United for their next Premier League clash.
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