Gabriel Martinelli scored the first goal for Arsenal in their 4-1 victory against Crystal Palace. This came just three days after he missed a penalty in Europa League
Mikel Arteta commended Gabriel Martinelli for his strong mentality, rebounding from a missed penalty against Sporting CP to score in Arsenal’s 4-1 win over Crystal Palace.
The missed penalty proved costly as Arsenal were knocked out of the Europa League, but Martinelli displayed resilience and was named in the starting line-up against Palace.
Arteta praises how Martinelli reacted
He went on to score the opening goal in Arsenal’s comfortable victory.
“The reaction he had after missing the penalty… There’s always the question,” Arteta told BBC Sport. “But I asked him how he was and he said he wants to be in the team.”
Martinelli has been Arsenal’s top scorer in the Premier League this season, netting 13 times, and has scored six times in his last six league games.
This is the most goals any Arsenal player aged 21 or under has scored in a single season since Nicolas Anelka scored 17 in the 1998-99 campaign.
Reflecting on how he put the disappointment of missing a penalty behind him, Martinelli said: “It is life. Not every game you are going to score and play well.
“Of course I was sad and spent the whole night thinking about that penalty, but it is over. I scored a goal today and we got the three points, which is the most important thing.”
Arsenal boss Arteta went on to praise Martinelli.
“He was disappointed,” Arteta said. “That is what we need. We need our front players firing and making the difference and today they did that again.
“The desire and the energy that we put in right from the beginning impressed me most. But we were really determined and focused and left Thursday in the past.
“After playing 120 minutes, they have to come back here and do it again against a team with a lot of needs.”
