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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Jake Polden

Martin Keown says Mikel Arteta needs to explain why he snubbed Gabriel Martinelli

Martin Keown has called on Mikel Arteta to explain why he's not playing Gabriel Martinelli.

The Arsenal striker was an unused substitute in the Gunners' 3-1 win over Olympiakos in the Europa League on Thursday night.

After the match, Keown admitted on BT Sport that if he was the Brazilian's dad he would be angry that the forward wasn't given an opportunity against the Greek side.

Martinelli has been blighted by injuries this season, but he's made only eight appearances in all competitions for the Gunners.

Arsenal took the lead through Real Madrid loanee Martin Odegaard on Thursday night, with the Norwegian firing home from distance in the first half of the last-16 clash.

Martin Keown has called on Mikel Arteta to explain why he's not playing Gabriel Martinelli (BBC)

The Gunners almost undid all their hard work after the break when goalkeeper Bernd Leno played the ball to Dani Ceballos who was quickly closed down and dispossessed just outside the Arsenal area.

Youssef El-Arabi made the most of the opportunity to fire home.

But the Gunners reclaimed their lead ten minutes before the end with Gabriel Magalhaes rising highest in the box to score a header before Mohamed Elneny smashed one in from distance.

The closest Gabriel Martinelli got to the action on Thursday night (Getty Images)

Mikel Arteta's Arsenal side take a commanding 3-1 aggregate scoreline into the second leg, which takes place at the Emirates on March 18.

Arteta said of the win: "We are really pleased with the result, with the goals and the win. As well, we have to be very clear and honest with ourselves. We gave three goals to the opponent, they took one."

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