Gabriel Martinelli has told Mikel Arteta he is ‘always’ available when he needs him after the Brazilian star came off the bench to score a vital stoppage-time goal in Arsenal’s 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace on Wednesday.
Nicolas Pepe gave Arsenal the lead with a right-footed volley which finished off a superb team move but they were pegged back by Benteke’s header.
It was substitute Martinell who made the difference in added time when he brought down Odegaard’s cross and tapped into the net, before Pepe wrapped up the scoring with his second of the game.
Martinelli burst onto the scene last campaign with 10 goals in his first 26 Arsenal appearances, but a serious knee injury which required surgery kept him ruled out for six months.
Arteta has managed the player’s minutes carefully since his return to action in December, however, the teenager once again showed his potential against Palace.
The result means the Gunners have kept their hopes of a top-six finish alive depending on how the other teams above them fare.
And Martinelli conceded it isn’t easy having to settle for a role on the substitutes bench as he said that he is ‘always ready’ to be called to action.
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‘So important the victory, we needed this victory to still believe for the Europa League for next season,’ Martinelli told BT Sport.
‘I’m always ready, when Mikel needs me, I’ll be there and have to come on and score a goal. ‘It’s not easy [not to be starting regularly] but as I said I’m always ready.
‘We have brilliant players and we believe in the Europa League so we need to fight and we have one more game so we go there and try to beat them.’
