Mikel Arteta praised Gabriel Martinelli’s impact and introduced the term ‘finishers’ to highlight substitutes’ crucial role. Martinelli scored swiftly after entering, assisting another sub, Leandro Trossard. Arteta emphasized the importance of these ‘finishers’ in Arsenal’s Champions League campaign and the team’s overall success.
Mikel Arteta has lavished praise on Gabriel Martinelli, highlighting the Brazilian's immediate impact and the growing importance of what he terms 'finishers' within the Arsenal squad. Following Arsenal's Champions League victory over Athletic Bilbao, Arteta spoke glowingly of Martinelli's attitude, commitment, and the positive influence he brings to the team. He also noted how the team embraced Martinelli after the game.
Martinelli, who scored just 36 seconds after coming on as a substitute, played a pivotal role in securing the win. Arteta revealed that he knew Martinelli was ready to make an impact as soon as he saw him on the bench. His first touch led to a goal, and later, he assisted Leandro Trossard, another substitute, in sealing the victory. According to Arteta, those players coming off the bench are just as crucial to the success of the team.
"He fully deserved it. I adore Gabriel: his attitude, his commitment, his positivity, what he’s willing to do for the team," Arteta stated. "I was sure that Gabby was going to react like that. He has such a mentality. He’s constantly willing to learn, very demanding with himself and hopefully that gives him the confidence again because he is an outstanding player. I looked on the bench, I looked at him, and in his eyes I could see that he was ready. Leo as well. I think that’s going to help us a lot for the future."
Arteta emphasized that the contributions of substitutes, or 'finishers,' are becoming increasingly vital. This season, he believes their impact will outweigh even that of the starters, reflecting a strategic shift in how he views the game. The Arsenal manager said those players coming off the bench are just as crucial to the success of the team.
"That shows that they are at least equally important or more important as anyone in this squad. That the finishers are going to be more important this season than the starters," Arteta added.
Arteta also touched on the emotional challenges of team selection. He acknowledged the difficulty of leaving players out, especially in major competitions, and understands the disappointment it causes. However, he stressed that his decisions are driven by the desire to maximize the team's chances of winning, even if they are not always correct.
"It’s always very difficult emotionally to leave players out. I know how much they want to play this competition and every time you do the lineup you are disappointing a lot of players. They know how I feel about them, so they know it hurts me. The only thing I can do is my job. I have to make decisions based on increasing the probability of winning football matches. Sometimes right, sometimes wrong."
When asked about his adoption of the term 'finishers,' borrowed from rugby union, Arteta confirmed his preference for it over 'substitutes.' He believes it more accurately reflects their enhanced role in modern football, where the quality of minutes played often determines the outcome of matches. The Arsenal coach added that those coming off the bench are just as crucial to the success of the team.
"Yes, I did and I love it, because I don’t like other words to describe the players. And I think, as the game is developing, they’re going to be more important in many minutes. So the quality of the minutes, I think, is going to dictate the quality of our season, for sure," Arteta concluded.
The victory over Athletic Bilbao marks a promising start to Arsenal's Champions League campaign, underscoring the significance of squad depth and tactical flexibility in achieving success. With Gabriel Martinelli leading the charge of 'finishers,' Arsenal looks poised to make a strong statement this season.