Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta was quick to hail Brazilian forward Gabriel Martinelli after the winger put in a player of the match display on Matchday 3 in the Champions League.
The Brazilian won’t officially be awarded the goal but it was all his effort that led to the opener.
He was not passed fit enough to start against Bournemouth on Saturday, coming on for the last half hour, and Arteta believes he made the most of the opportunity on Tuesday.
Arteta hails sharp Martinelli
“For the goal, for the performance, he looked really sharp,” Arteta said afterwards. “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.”
Martinelli was easily a bright spot on a hard-fought win, to make it seven points from a possible nine for Arsenal 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,” the boss 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 you 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.”
Arteta also called on his players to bounce back in the Premier League ahead of a crucial home game with Liverpool.
“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.”
