In each of these games, however, he has decided against playing the 18-year-old as a central striker, the position he made his first two starts for the club playing, scoring three goals in the process.

Even when Alexandre Lacazette dropped out of form, the Spaniard chose to bring Eddie Nketiah into the fold rather than move Martinelli infield. Instead, he kept the youngster playing out wide which, especially when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's suspension was over, caused debate.

Despite Martinelli's exploits through the middle under Emery, Arteta has had reasons for playing him out wide.

"They are but with the squad balance we have at the moment to play on that position on the left we don't have five players because we're using one of them to play as a left-back who is not a left-back," said Arteta in March

So we're just trying to adapt to the situation we have. Today try to put in the team, players that have a goal threat that can be successful for the team and that's part of managing the players that we have."