Arsenal Pre-Season: Gabriel and Martinelli Return to Action
Arsenal’s pre-season steps up a gear in Dublin on Wednesday night, and two familiar faces are finally ready to join the stride.
Brazilians back in the frame
Gabriel and Gabriel Martinelli have been on ice since the World Cup, ordered to take an extended break after helping Brazil reach the last 16. That meant no involvement in the behind-closed-doors win over MK Dons on July 25, and no minutes in the 4-1 victory against Girona in Spain, despite rejoining the squad there.
They trained with the group last week. They watched from the sidelines. Now, with a few more intense sessions behind them, both are expected to feature at the Aviva Stadium against Real Betis as Arsenal’s preparations sharpen.
Don’t expect a full workload, though. Mikel Arteta protected his returning internationals against Girona, pulling Piero Hincapie, Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres after just 30 minutes. He could easily apply the same cautious plan with Gabriel and Martinelli: minutes, rhythm, but no risks.
Managing minutes and knocks
Ben White is the other key puzzle piece. The defender banked 60 solid minutes on his return from a knee injury in the Girona win, a significant step after three months out. Having come through that test, Arsenal may still choose to rest him against Betis, rather than push too hard too soon.
If White sits this one out, youngster Marli Salmon is in line to cover at right-back. Jurrien Timber remains doubtful, so the door opens again for the academy prospect to stake another quiet claim.
Further forward, the captain is back in the building but not quite back on the pitch. Martin Odegaard is due to return to training this week after his post-World Cup holiday, yet the lack of work with the group makes his involvement in Dublin highly unlikely. Arsenal will not rush their playmaker into a friendly when the season’s real demands lie just around the corner.
That scenario hands another opportunity to Ethan Nwaneri. The teenager has impressed with his composure and touch in midfield, and the Betis game should give him another platform to show he belongs in this company.
Midfield mix and transfer undertones
Nwaneri is likely to be flanked by Havertz and Myles Lewis-Skelly in the engine room. The senior options remain thin for now: Martin Zubimendi, Eberechi Eze, Declan Rice and Mikel Merino are all still on their breaks after international duty.
There is also the backdrop of a midfield chase that has yet to bear fruit. Arsenal have already seen a bid for Bruno Guimaraes knocked back by Newcastle, a reminder that while the squad is evolving, it is not yet complete. For now, the youngsters step into the gaps.
Havertz, managed carefully in Spain, should see more action this time. The German’s early withdrawal against Girona was about conditioning, not concern, and Betis offers another chance for him to knit together Arsenal’s play between the lines.
Martinelli’s wing, and room for the kids
In attack, Max Dowman and Christos Tzolis both found the net in the 4-1 win over Girona, underlining the depth of attacking options bubbling underneath the established stars. Dowman’s sharpness and Tzolis’s impact were timely in a squad still easing back from summer exertions.
But the left flank belongs to Martinelli when he is fit, and this is the stage for him to feel the grass under his boots again. The summer signing Tzolis may have to make way for the Brazilian to reclaim his favoured position on that side, even if only for a short, carefully monitored spell.
Arteta’s task in Dublin is clear: blend returning internationals with hungry youngsters, build fitness without inviting trouble, and keep the competitive edge that drove a dominant display against Girona.
The opposition steps up, the stakes remain low, but the clues for Arsenal’s season are starting to appear.
