Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has praised Gabriel Martinelli for his performance on Tuesday night against Shakhtar.
The Brazilian failed to score in the game, but he created five chances and completed all of his dribbles on the night.
Martinelli was in great form before the international break, scoring twice and providing one assist in three games.
He started off the bench against Bournemouth, and when he came on he was the gunners’ biggest threat in their 2-0 defeat.
Martinelli said he gained his confidence back after a solid performance in the win against Leicester City.
Mikel Arteta hails Martinelli performance
Arsenal v Shakhtar Donetsk 22 October 2024, London – UEFA Champions League – Arsenal v Shakhtar Donetsk – Shakhtar Donetsk goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk is put under pressure by Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal – Photo: Jacques Feeney / Offside. London UK *** Arsenal gegen Shakhtar Donetsk 22. Oktober 2024, London UEFA Champions League Arsenal gegen Shakhtar Donetsk Shakhtar Donetsk Torhüter Dmytro Riznyk wird von Gabriel Martinelli von Arsenal unter Druck gesetzt Foto Jacques Feeney Offside London UK PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xJacquesxFeeneyx/xOffsidexOffside
With Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard missing from the team, the Brazilian had to carry most of the attacking threat on Tuesday night.
Mikel Arteta praised the forward for being a real threat during the match:
“For the goal, for the performance, he looked really sharp,” Arteta said afterwards. “You could tell that he didn’t play 95 minutes and a big chunk of that with ten men (against Bournemouth). He had a different rhythm; different gear and he was a real threat.”
Arsenal had a nervy ending to the game, they spent the last 20 minutes holding on to the lead. It took David Raya’s brilliant save to keep the scores level. After the game, Shakhtar boss Marino Pusic said his side did not deserve to lose.
Arsenal boss on shaky second half performance
After a bright start on Tuesday night, the Gunners failed to control the game for most parts of the second half. Mikel Arteta says fatigue played a part in that performance:
“In the second half, we started pretty well and then we started to give a little bit back. I think physically and mentally what we went through two-and-a-half days ago paid but it was important and then we didn’t have that clarity, that purpose, we gave some balls away and we didn’t have the same rhythm as we did in the first half.
“And credit to Shakhtar, they are a good side and in spaces can create you problems. Then we had the moment to put the game to bed with the penalty, we didn’t again, we gave them more hope and for us it was a moment to dig back in and manage to end the game and get the result at the end which we’re really happy with.”
