There’s a different energy around Arsenal this season, and it’s showing most clearly in how their wide players approach the game.
The shift is subtle but significant: hesitation has been replaced by fearless dribbling and direct runs.
And for Gabriel Martinelli, this new culture is reshaping his place in Mikel Arteta’s plans.
Martinelli Shows He Can Adapt to Arsenal’s Demands
In a recent clash with Athletic Bilbao, Martinelli found himself facing full-back Andoni Gorosabel.
Last season, he might have chosen the safe option—turning back and recycling the ball.
But this time, he pushed forward with intent, hitting the byline and squaring for Leandro Trossard to score Arsenal’s second goal.
That moment was more than just an assist. It was a reflection of Martinelli’s willingness to adapt.
He had already scored just 36 seconds after coming on, so confidence was flowing, but there’s also a new reality: the competition for places is fiercer than ever.
Madueke and Eze Raise the Standard
The arrivals of Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze have raised the bar for Arsenal’s wingers.
Both players thrive on attacking defenders head-on, stretching play, and creating danger from wide areas.
In Arteta’s system this season, playing it safe no longer cuts it—passivity risks dropping down the pecking order.
Against Nottingham Forest, Eze showed exactly why he was signed.
Bursting through the left channel, he latched onto Riccardo Calafiori’s pass, let it bounce once, and whipped in a low cross for Viktor Gyokeres to finish.
Madueke was just as sharp, breezing past Dan Ndoye earlier in the game and setting up a near-chance with a clever drag-back.
The Numbers Tell the Story of Arsenal’s Shift
The stats back up what fans are seeing. Last season, Arsenal averaged 18.3 dribbles per game across competitions.
This season, that number has already jumped to 19.8.
Individually, Martinelli attempted 100 dribbles last year—more than any of his teammates—but his 33% success rate left him well below elite dribblers like West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus (47.2%) and City’s Jeremy Doku (60.5%). By contrast, Madueke looks set to eclipse him.
If he keeps up his pace, he’s on track for 124 attempted dribbles with a success rate above 53%.
Arsenal’s Attack Becomes Unpredictable
This evolution gives Arteta more weapons in attack.
For too long, Arsenal leaned heavily on Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard to break down stubborn defences.
Now, with Eze, Madueke, Martinelli, Trossard, and even Gyokeres offering different angles of attack, the frontline is far less predictable.
Sources around the club say this is deliberate. Arsenal want their forwards to rotate positions and stretch opponents in ways they struggled to last season, when too many games ended in frustrating draws.
A Style That Suits a Classic No. 9
This direct approach also suits Gyokeres perfectly. Rather than dropping deep to link play, he thrives on darting into the box, waiting for those quick balls across the six-yard line.
His goal against Forest was a textbook example of how Arsenal’s sharper wing play can unlock his strengths.
Arteta Demands Precision and Width
Arteta’s fingerprints are all over these tweaks. During the Bilbao match, he was heard shouting at Eze to stay wide instead of drifting inside.
The heat maps confirm it: in the second half, Eze hugged the touchline more, giving Arsenal’s midfield trio—Mikel Merino, Declan Rice, and Martin Zubimendi—greater room to control the game.
Where Eze Fits in the Bigger Picture
While Eze has mostly been used on the left since rejoining his boyhood club, he isn’t restricted to one role.
Arteta still sees him as a potential No. 10, especially if Ødegaard’s shoulder injury lingers.
His ability to dribble, pass incisively, and create chaos makes him a strong candidate to step into central roles when needed.
It’s worth remembering that Arteta has a track record of redefining players’ positions.
Kai Havertz and Mikel Merino, both signed as midfielders, ended up delivering as prolific strikers by the end of their debut seasons.
Eze’s long-term role could follow a similar pattern.
Martinelli Learns That Fearlessness Is Non-Negotiable
For Martinelli, the message is clear. Arsenal’s wide men must be bold, direct, and unafraid to take risks. Playing it safe isn’t an option anymore.
With Madueke and Eze raising standards and Arteta demanding width and aggression, Martinelli knows that his future in the starting XI depends on embracing this new, fearless approach.
What This Means Going Forward
Arsenal’s frontline is no longer one-dimensional. With a mix of dribblers, playmakers, and a traditional striker, they now have the unpredictability they lacked last year.
For Arteta, it’s about building an attack that can overwhelm even the most organised defences.
For Martinelli, it’s about proving he belongs in this new era—where hesitation leads straight to the bench.