Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli has set summer signing Viktor Gyokeres a huge goal target for his debut season in England. Gyokeres moved to the Gunners after a goal-laden spell with Portuguese side Sporting CP. And while the Swede has failed to score in five games, Martinelli believes that hefty goal target is attainable as Arsenal look to land domestic and continental success.
Getty Images SportGyokeres has struggled in the opening weeks at Arsenal
Gyokeres has struggled in the opening weeks of his Arsenal career following his arrival from Sporting, however. Indeed, the Sweden international, who scored 39 league goals in Portugal last season, has netted just three goals across his opening nine appearances after drawing a blank against Olympiacos in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
Goals from Martinelli and Bukayo Saka either side of half time saw the Gunners make it two wins from two to kick off their European campaign as one of six teams to win both opening matches.
AdvertisementGyokeres goals will surely come
The goals, though, will surely come for Gyokeres, who managed three shots in midweek and has had more shots (13) than any Arsenal player in the Premier League this season.
And teammate Martinelli, who has scored in three of his last five appearances for Mikel Arteta's side after bagging the opener on Wednesday night, has set a monster goal target for the 27-year-old despite blanking for five games straight.
Getty Images Sport'He’s one of the top strikers in the world right now'
Following Arsenal's win over Olympiacos, Martinelli, quoted by Standard Sport, was quick to praise Gyokeres, stating: "We are really happy with him. We trust him. We know his qualities and he’s one of the top strikers in the world right now. We trust him and we are trying to give him the confidence to score and to do his best on the pitch to help us."
The Brazil international believes having a player of Martin Odegaard's quality will aid Gyokeres, adding: "It’s really good to play with Martin [Odegaard] there because he’s always trying to find you, when we make the movement. And for Viktor as well, his qualities, he likes to go in behind and attack the opposition’s box. So, I think him playing with Martin as well is going to be good for him. We are going to try to give him the ball as much as possible to make him score, I don’t know, 30 or 40 goals a season."
Martinelli welcomes competition for club and country
Gyokeres wasn't Arsenal's only summer signing, with Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze joining from Chelsea and Crystal Palace, respectively, but Martinelli, who started Wednesday's win on the right with Leandro Trossard on the left, welcomes the competition at the Emirates and isn't worried about fighting for regular minutes at club level because it's similar with the Brazil national team.
"It’s the same in the national team for me. I’m not going to complain to have Vini and Rodrygo and Raphinha playing with me! I’m really happy to have them there and happy to have the players that we have here as well," Martinelli said.
"With the signings that we brought in, we’ve got a huge squad now. So let’s try to use this squad, because it’s a long season, everyone knows it and sometimes we have injuries and with a big squad, we have more opportunities to win the game.
"We play for Arsenal. We have to use every single one that is available. So, if someone gets injured, we’re going to try to use someone else. This is why we have a huge squad right now I mean, I want to play. I want to start every single game. And as I said, I’m going to help the team as much as possible.
"The manager is the one that takes the decision. We have to respect him. And when I have the opportunity, I always try to give my best."
