Why Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli & Gabriel Magalhaes could return for preseason a week before the Premier League starts
Arteta’s preseason problems
Arsenal have had a difficult season in which they struggled to put together consistent form.
This has led to a poor league standing which could leave them without European football.
One of the reasons behind this has been suggested to be a lack of pre-season since Mikel Arteta’s introduction as head coach of the club in December of 2019.
LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 01: Mikel Arteta the manager / head coach of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on January 1, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images)
He arrived after the sacking of Unai Emery and then saw his inaugural campaign interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
This meant that most of pre-season was done in a rushed fashion with the time spent in lockdown sending workouts to players in their own homes to keep them fit.
This meant there was very little time for work on tactics and in-depth planning as to how the Spaniard wanted his team to play ahead of the new season.
This was clearly evident throughout the beginning of the season where Arsenal struggled to create many chances and found themselves even touted as relegation candidates.
Since Christmas however things have changed in the form table shows that Arsenal sit 3rd in regards to point gained. However a poor Europa League exit to Villarreal and Emery left the season still in ruin.
Premier League points since Christmas Day
57 Man City
44 Man Utd
41 Arsenal
39 Chelsea
39 Leicester
37 West Ham
33 Leeds
31 Spurs
29 Everton
26 Liverpool— Orbinho (@Orbinho) May 13, 2021
Preseason for the coming 2021/22 campaign is being regarded as a make a break time for the Gunners’ current boss.
Gabriel and Martinelli could miss large portion of preseason
There is been both good news and bad news for Arsenal’s Brazilian contingent.
Firstly was the news that Defender David Luiz will be leaving the club at the end of the season with no contract either being extended towards him nor a want from him to remain at the club.
David Luiz leaving Arsenal at end of season. 34yo told club today + they agreed. #AFC had not offered new deal & even if they did the Brazil int’l defender wouldn’t have signed as decision had been made to go @TheAthleticUK @SamiMokbel81_DM 1st off mark 👏 https://t.co/W00EY5VOlS
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) May 14, 2021
Willian has had a difficult first season, failing to win over the fan base with largely tepid displays, however, the other two compatriots Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli are both appreciated members of the squad.
However, the Brazilian national side has called up both to take part in the Tokyo Olympics taking part this summer.
📋 Convocação da #SeleçãoOlímpica
ZAGUEIROS:
Gabriel – @Arsenal
Ibañez – @OfficialASRoma
Luiz Felipe – @OfficialSSLazio
Nino – @FluminenseFC pic.twitter.com/dEIaYOujC0— CBF Futebol (@CBF_Futebol) May 14, 2021
📋 Convocação da #SeleçãoOlímpica
ATACANTES:
Martinelli – @Arsenal
Pedro – @Flamengo
Rodrygo – @realmadrid pic.twitter.com/3l2glSm6mx— CBF Futebol (@CBF_Futebol) May 14, 2021
The tournament is set to run from July 23rd to August 8th. The Premier League season gets underway commencing the weekend of the 14th of August.
This means that should Brazil go far in the tournament, both players may not return for preseason until a week before. This would likely lead to allowing the pair some recovery time and therefore missing multiple games at the beginning.
Whilst Martinelli has been very much a bit-part player so far as he develops and is gradually integrated back from a long-term injury, Gabriel Magalhaes has been a fan favourite in defence despite a late drop in form.
Fortunately, the good displays of Pablo Mari will be an encouraging factor. William Saliba’s return from loan, where he has played to the left of the Nice central defence, means he could also deputise.
Arteta will have some big decisions to make very early on it seems.
Confirmed: David Luiz to depart Arsenal after informing club of decision on Friday
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Premier League table
| # | Team | MP | D | P |
| 1 | Manchester City FC | 35 | 46 | 80 |
| 2 | Manchester United FC | 36 | 28 | 70 |
| 3 | Leicester City FC | 36 | 21 | 66 |
| 4 | Chelsea FC | 36 | 22 | 64 |
| 5 | Liverpool FC | 35 | 20 | 60 |
| 6 | West Ham United FC | 35 | 10 | 58 |
| 7 | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 35 | 20 | 56 |
| 8 | Everton FC | 35 | 4 | 56 |
| 9 | Arsenal FC | 36 | 12 | 55 |
| 10 | Leeds United | 35 | 0 | 50 |
| 11 | Aston Villa FC | 35 | 8 | 49 |
| 12 | Wolverhampton Wanderers FC | 35 | -12 | 45 |
| 13 | Crystal Palace FC | 35 | -22 | 41 |
| 14 | Southampton FC | 35 | -18 | 40 |
| 15 | Burnley FC | 35 | -14 | 39 |
| 16 | Newcastle United FC | 35 | -18 | 39 |
| 17 | Brighton & Hove Albion FC | 35 | -5 | 37 |
| 18 | Fulham FC | 35 | -22 | 27 |
| 19 | West Bromwich Albion | 35 | -36 | 26 |
| 20 | Sheffield United FC | 35 | -44 | 17 |
| Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 21 |
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 21 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United FC | 17 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 17 |
| Calvert-Lewin, Dominic | Everton FC | 16 |
| Bamford, Patrick | Leeds United | 15 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City FC | 13 |
| Watkins, Ollie | Aston Villa FC | 13 |
| Lacazette, Alexandre | Arsenal FC | 13 |
| Wilson, Callum | Newcastle United FC | 12 |
| Ings, Danny | Southampton FC | 12 |
| Wood, Chris | Burnley FC | 12 |
| Gundogan, Ilkay | Manchester City FC | 12 |
| Rashford, Marcus | Manchester United FC | 11 |
| Iheanacho, Kelechi | Leicester City FC | 11 |
| Sterling, Raheem | Manchester City FC | 10 |
| Pereira, Matheus | West Bromwich Albion | 10 |
| Aubameyang, Pierre-Emerick | Arsenal FC | 10 |
| Zaha, Wilfried | Crystal Palace FC | 10 |
| Mane, Sadio | Liverpool FC | 9 |
| Player | Team | Red Cards | Yellow Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maguire, Harry | Manchester United FC | 0 | 11 |
| Gallagher, Conor | West Bromwich Albion | 0 | 10 |
| McGinn, John | Aston Villa FC | 0 | 9 |
| Milivojevic, Luka | Crystal Palace FC | 1 | 8 |
| Lundstram, John | Sheffield United FC | 1 | 8 |
| Luiz, Douglas | Aston Villa FC | 0 | 8 |
| Soucek, Tomas | West Ham United FC | 1 | 7 |
| Hojbjerg, Pierre | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 0 | 8 |
| Xhaka, Granit | Arsenal FC | 1 | 7 |
| Bellerin, Hector | Arsenal FC | 0 | 8 |
| Egan, John | Sheffield United FC | 1 | 7 |
| Holgate, Mason | Everton FC | 0 | 8 |
| Bissouma, Yves | Brighton & Hove Albion FC | 1 | 7 |
| Hayden, Isaac | Newcastle United FC | 0 | 8 |
| McGoldrick, David | Sheffield United FC | 0 | 7 |
| Shaw, Luke | Manchester United FC | 0 | 7 |
| Neves, Ruben | Wolverhampton Wanderers FC | 0 | 7 |
| Dunk, Lewis | Brighton & Hove Albion FC | 2 | 5 |
| Reid, Bobby | Fulham FC | 0 | 7 |
| Evans, Jonny | Leicester City FC | 0 | 7 |
| Player | Team | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 13 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United FC | 11 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 10 |
| Grealish, Jack | Aston Villa FC | 10 |
| De Bruyne, Kevin | Manchester City FC | 10 |
| Rashford, Marcus | Manchester United FC | 9 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City FC | 8 |
| Werner, Timo | Chelsea FC | 8 |
| Raphinha | Leeds United | 7 |
| Gross, Pascal | Brighton & Hove Albion FC | 7 |
| Cresswell, Aaron | West Ham United FC | 7 |
| Digne, Lucas | Everton FC | 7 |
| Bamford, Patrick | Leeds United | 6 |
| Sterling, Raheem | Manchester City FC | 6 |
| Pereira, Matheus | West Bromwich Albion | 6 |
| Mane, Sadio | Liverpool FC | 6 |
| Firmino, Roberto | Liverpool FC | 6 |
| Ward-Prowse, James | Southampton FC | 6 |
| Harrison, Jack | Leeds United | 6 |
| Neto, Pedro | Wolverhampton Wanderers FC | 6 |
