MX23RW : Sunday, November 24 08:39:53| >> :120:37654:37654:

Mikel Arteta convinced Willian will flourish at Arsenal

The Brazilian has endured a slow start to life at the Emirates Stadium.

Mikel Arteta is hoping Arsenal fans will start to see the best of Willian in the coming weeks.

The 32-year-old moved to the Emirates Stadium from London rivals Chelsea in the summer but has struggled to make an impact.

The Brazil international has been criticised online for much of the campaign, having provided three Premier League assists and failed to open his goalscoring account for the Gunners.

Arteta introduced Willian off the bench in Thursday's Europa League win over Benfica and he helped in the comeback, laying on Kieran Tierney's goal before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's late header saw Arsenal advance.

Following that positive cameo, Arteta now wants to see the two-time Premier League winner kick on having been so keen to bring him to north London in the first instance.

"He is a player who we all like," Arteta said of Willian.

"His team-mates like him and we were expecting many more things from him since he joined but for many different reasons he hasn't found his best performances.

"But hopefully Thursday's performance is going to give him the platform and belief that he is a really important player – he is a player I really like and I did a lot to bring him in and hopefully he can still give us more.

"I was really pleased with Willian on Thursday and he totally deserves some credit because of the way he trains every day and he is trying.

"In games now you can see that he is starting to produce what we think he can do for the team so everyone has to step up and create big moments in games because the front players in the end have to be the ones that decide the game for us."

Given the truncated season and the amount of matches being played, Willian could yet be recalled to the starting line-up for Sunday's trip to high-flying Leicester.

Another Arsenal star looking for a rare start will be fellow Brazilian Gabriel Martinelli – who has fallen down the pecking order in recent weeks.

Gabriel Martinelli has struggled to break into the Arsenal side of late.
Gabriel Martinelli has struggled to break into the Arsenal side of late (Adrian Dennis/PA)

Having looked good following his return from a serious knee injury, the 19-year-old has started just twice since the turn of the year.

"He wants to play all the time," Arteta replied when asked if he has had to have conversations with Martinelli to explain his lack of minutes.

"We know him and we know he is disappointed when he is not playing and you know that when you throw him on the pitch he is going to do his best.

"He had an opportunity last week when I decided to sub Auba and give him some minutes against Benfica.

"He needs to take those opportunities and if he plays on Sunday he needs to take it like everybody else."c

ID:437116: cacheID:437116:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:7111:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Hakan Calhanoglu celebrates scoring for Milan on September 24, 2020
Read Next:
Man United 'to scout Calhanoglu in Europa League tie'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Vikings
@
Bears
6pm
Lions
@
Colts
6pm
Patriots
@
Dolphins
6pm
Buccaneers
@
Giants
6pm
Chiefs
@
Panthers
6pm
Titans
@
Texans
6pm
Cowboys
@
Washington
9.05pm
Broncos
@
Raiders
9.25pm
49ers
@
Packers
9.25pm
Cardinals
@
Seahawks
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
10Fulham125341717018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Crystal Palace121561017-78
19Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
20Southampton11119721-144


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!