Mikel Arteta was full of praise for Gabriel Martinelli after the winger turned in a player-of-the-match performance against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League.
Martinelli played a vital part in the narrow victory against Shakhtar. It was his shot that cannoned off the post and hit goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk on his back and into his net.
“For the goal, for the performance, he looked really sharp,” said Arteta after the match as quoted by the club’s website.
Martinelli didn’t start against Bournemouth on Saturday, coming on for the last half hour, and Arteta believes he took advantage of that on Tuesday against Shakhtar Donetsk.
“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.”
Arteta said it was important that the Gunners get a win at home against Shakhtar Donetsk. After the victory. Arsenal now have seven points from a possible nine at the start of the competition.
“In this format, to win the home matches is going to be super important to get the objectives that we want,” Arteta added.
“We started the game really well; I think in the first half we were really dominant; we created various chances – four I recall – big chances that we had to put the ball in the back of the net, we didn’t and that gave them a bit of hope.
“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 your 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.”
Arsenal next face Liverpool in what is expected to be a mouth-watering Premier League clash at Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
“It’s always very great and important to win in the Champions League, we start tomorrow with the preparations and the place has to be rocking here against Liverpool and give us all the possible energy that they can,” concluded Arteta.
