Alan Shearer has told Mikel Arteta that Garbiel Martinelli now deserves an extended run in the Arsenal lineup following his goalscoring exploits against West Ham.
Martinelli has been made to wait for opportunities this season, finding himself behind Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the pecking order.
But following the decision to drop Aubameyang from the squad following another disciplinary breach, the Brazilian has earned four Premier League starts on the spin.
During that time Martinelli has two goals and two assists with the Gunners moving into the top four following their 2-0 win over the Hammers.
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Martinelli played a starring role during the victory and Shearer has now urged Arteta to keep the young striker in the starting XI moving forward.
“I’d like him to have more of a run over a sustained period and show what he can do over a sustained period of time but that is really exciting play and that’s exactly what Arteta needed tonight,” Shearer said.
“The players needed to go out and do the manager a favour, he put his neck on the line in making that big decision and leaving the captain out and taking the captaincy off him publicly.
“They didn’t disappoint and didn’t let him down.”
Arteta labelled Martinelli’s showing as his best in an Arsenal shirt, claiming he is continuing to mature with every passing week.
“Certainly, it was one of the best in every aspect of the game,” Arteta explained. “Physically he’s growing, today he was cramping again, and he needs to mature on that side of the game.
“But his overall understanding of the game is much better.
“He’s able to put some gears into his play sometimes instead of doing everything 100 miles per hour. But the energy and the quality he shows up front is top.”
The forward line, along with Alexandre Lacezette operated a high press to put the visitors under pressure and the Arsenal boss outlined that’s exactly what he was after.
He added: “That’s what I demand them to do. If we want to play the way that I want those players have to do that consistently in every action.
“That’s why it facilitates everything that happens in behind because that process is done at the right moment with the right rhythm and intensity. I’m really pleased with that.
