Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli has heaped praise on team-mate Martin Odegaard, insisting the Norwegian playmaker can assist Viktor Gyokeres in netting 40 goals a season for the Gunners. The Swede, who joined from Sporting CP for a hefty £63.5million, has already scored three times in the Premier League since his arrival in north London.
Despite a five-game dry spell across all competitions, Martinelli remains unfazed and is determined to help the 27-year-old striker rediscover his goal-scoring touch. Martinelli expressed his confidence in Gyokeres, saying: “We are really happy with him, we trust him, we know his qualities and he’s one of the top strikers in the world right now. We trust him and we are trying to give him the confidence to score and to do his best on the pitch to help us. It’s really good to play with Martin there because he’s always trying to find you, when we make the movement.
“And for Victor as well, his qualities as well, as he likes to go in behind and attack the opposition’s box. I think him playing with Martin as well is going to be good for him. We are going to try to give him the ball as much as possible to make him score, I don’t know, 30 or 40 goals a season.”
Gyokeres also received commendations from manager Mikel Arteta for his efforts against Olympiacos. Although he didn’t score, his performance was energetic and threatening, suggesting that on another occasion he might have bagged a brace.
The Spanish boss praised the striker’s showing, saying: “He had an incredible performance. As you said, apart from the goal, I think he did the rest of the things you ask for from a striker.
“The way he’s linking with his team-mates, the way he’s opening spaces, the way he’s constantly threatening the back line. He had three or four big situations where he could have scored a goal, so it will come.”
The Swedish forward has featured alongside various attacking partners in recent fixtures due to squad rotation. Yet he’ll be eager to rediscover his goalscoring form this weekend when West Ham make the trip to the Emirates Stadium for their Premier League clash.
No top-flight side has conceded more goals (14) than the Hammers, who secured a draw at Everton on Monday evening in their maiden outing under Nuno Espirito Santo. Whilst he’s never previously faced West Ham’s senior side, he did find the net twice in two outings against the Irons’ U21s whilst at Brighton.
