A round-up of the latest Arsenal news as Ben White reveals his honest thoughts about Gabriel Martinelli and Chris Sutton coins a new phrase to criticise winger Bukayo Saka.
Ben White reveals his ‘honest’ thoughts about Arsenal teammate Gabriel Martinelli
Arsenal defender Ben White admits he ‘does not want to go too near’ Gabriel Martinelli too often in training. The 26-year-old feels he has a good on-field relationship with the Brazilian in north London. But White would love to not face the forward every day at London Colney.
White and Martinelli often shape up in training to try and bring the best out of the other at Arsenal. Their efforts at London Colney have helped to turn White into one of the top right-backs in the Premier League. While Martinelli is an attacking livewire out on their left flank.
The way that Martinelli can run rings around right-backs also strikes fear into White during training at Arsenal. The 22-year-old can turn on a sixpence and burst away from defenders at ease. But White accepts they have to have a ‘competitive’ scenario to achieve their peak.
“I think we have an understanding,” White has told Arsenal’s website. “I play against Gabriel Martinelli every day in training for example and, to be honest, I don’t want to go too near to him most of the time. But, at the same time, we have to keep it competitive.”
Boss Mikel Arteta has fielded White in 43 of Arsenal’s 44 matches in all competitions so far this season. He gives the Emirates Stadium outfit a consistent presence at either end of the field. Martinelli has featured in 36 games, also starting in 29, for eight goals and five assists.
Read more about what White has said about his relationship with Martinelli, here.
Arsenal will sell Charlie Patino as Mikel Arteta focuses on Ethan Nwaneri’s senior career
Arsenal will sanction a permanent transfer for Charlie Patino this summer as Mikel Arteta is focusing on Ethan Nwaneri’s senior career. That is according to the Evening Standard, which reports that Patino will target a transfer abroad with his hopes for playing under Arteta thin.
Patino is currently on loan to Swansea City after struggling to force a way into Arteta’s plans. But the 20-year-old will only have one year remaining on his contract upon his return to the Gunners this summer. Arteta is also ready to sanction a move, with clubs in Spain interested.
Arteta will allow Patino to leave to strengthen Arsenal’s budget. Nwaneri is also set to gain a greater role in north London next season after signing his first professional contract. Sides in Spain can avoid post-Brexit rules with Patino as he has a Spanish passport through his dad.
Read more about Arsenal’s plans for Nwaneri and Patino’s transfer situation, here.
Chris Sutton coins a new phrase for Bukayo Saka after ‘diving’ against Bayern Munich
Chris Sutton has coined a new phrase to describe Bukayo Saka after calling the Arsenal ace a ‘diver’ following a late-match collision with Bayern Munich goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer. The pair collided in the area in the dying seconds but referee Glenn Nyberg ignored Saka’s pleas.
Saka was adamant that Neuer fouled the 22-year-old to stop him from handing Arsenal a 3-2 advantage on aggregate. But Sutton believes Nyberg got the call correct as Saka initiated the contact. He feels the forward ensured Neuer made contact, rather than simply shooting.
Arsenal will go to Bayern Munich for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final next Wednesday level on aggregate. Saka may have faced an easy chance to score his 19th goal this term without the late collision with Neuer, which has left Sutton at a complete loss.
“A ‘dropper-downer’ is someone who falls over, who throws themselves to the floor,” Sutton told the It’s All Kicking Off podcast. “A diver, that’s a dropper-downer. A diver!”
Sutton added: “I’m still trying to understand what he was actually thinking. Because, if you actually see the incident, he actually takes a really good touch. Saka manoeuvres the ball and you think that he can just get onto it.
“There was a defender or two back but with his ability, he would have gone around the goalkeeper. But he chose, actually, to try and win a penalty. What was he thinking of? He carried his run on [and] he initiated the contact with Neuer. It was the correct decision.”
Read more about what Sutton has said about Saka’s ‘dive’ against Bayern Munich, here.