Whelan stated that Mikel Arteta will not want to break up a winning team to accommodate another player. Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the 47-year-old said:
He added:
Gabriel Martinelli will be available for selection against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Thursday. The Brazilian forward has served his one-match suspension after picking up a red card against the same opposition earlier this month. The Gunners won the reverse tie 1-0 at the Molineux.
However, his place in the starting XI is not guaranteed anymore. Arsenal secured a comfortable 2-1 win over Brentford at the weekend, with Saka and Smith Rowe getting on the scoresheet. It is highly unlikely that Mikel Arteta will drop any of them for their game against Wolves.
Arsenal could close the gap between themselves and Manchester United
Arsenal are currently sixth in the Premier League standings, having amassed 42 points from 23 matches. The Gunners are currently four points behind fourth-placed Manchester United, but have three games in hand.
A win against Wolves would see them trail the Red Devils by just one point with two games in hand. Three points on Thursday night will put the Gunners in a strong position to secure a place in next season’s Champions League.
However, it is also worth mentioning that Wolves are currently just two points behind Arsenal in the league standings. Bruno Lage’s side, however, have played one game more than the Gunners.
Martinelli has enjoyed a decent season so far with the Gunners, registering four goals and three assists in 22 appearances across competitions.
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