“Put Martinelli on the bench and play this player on the left” – Mikel Arteta has been seriously warned to stop using Martinelli and play a £47m player on the wing for Arsenal – not Trossard, not Smith Rowe and not Vierra

‘On the bench’: Sky expert says he would indeed drop Martinelli and play a £45m player on the wing for Arsenal

Jay Bothroyd has said he would ideally start with Gabriel Jesus on the left for Arsenal.

Discussing the best and worst strikers in the Premier League on Sky Sports Saturday Social, Bothroyd said he doesn’t see the £45m player as a striker at all.

According to the expert, in an ideal world Arsenal would sign a top nine player, Jesus would move to the left and Gabriel Martinelli would sit on the bench.

Bothroyd would replace Martinelli on the bench for Jesus

The expert shared his assessment of Jesus’ role and what his ideal Arsenal team would look like.

“I have to agree with you here because I can’t say that Gabriel Jesus is a striker or a number nine. The best seasons he has had have been from long range, he doesn’t score enough goals,” Bothroyd said.

“When Arsenal first signed Jesus, I said Arsenal still need to sign a striker who scores 15-20 Premier League goals a year. If we were to sign a top nine, I would put Jesus on the left, Sako on the right and Martinelli on the bench.”

The ultimate attack

While it sounds ridiculous to trade Martinelli for anyone in this Arsenal squad, we have to admit that the idea of Arsenal signing another quality striker is fascinating.

Mikel Arteta would have so much freedom to rotate Bukaya Sak, Jesus, Martinelli and this new striker, allowing each player to rest when he needs to.

Do Arsenal need a new striker? Probably not, but if you want to be a truly elite club today, you need to have more top options in almost every role.