Gabriel Martinelli names Arsenal star capable of helping Viktor Gyokeres hit 40-goal mark

Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli has claimed Martin Odegaard can help Viktor Gyokeres score 40 goals per season for the Gunners. The Swede, signed from Sporting CP for £63.5million this summer, has already hit the back of the net three times in the Premier League since arriving in north London.

However, he is now five games in all competitions without a goal but Martinelli is not concerned in the slightest. In fact, he has taken it upon himself to get the 27-year-old firing again.

He said of his fellow forward: "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.

"It’s really good to play with Martin there because he’s always trying to find you, when we make the movement. And for Victor as well, his qualities as well, as he likes to go in behind and attack the opposition’s box. 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."

Gyokeres was also praised by Mikel Arteta for his performance against Olympiacos. While he did not find the target, he ran the Greeks ragged and on another day, could have helped himself to a couple of goals.

The Spaniard said of the centre-forward's display: “He had an incredible performance. As you said, apart from the goal, I think he did the rest of the things you ask for from a striker.

"The way he's linking with his teammates, the way he's opening spaces, the way he's constantly threatening the back line. He had three or four big situations where he could have scored a goal, so it will come.”

The Sweden international has played with a number of different forwards in the past few matches amid rotation. But he will be looking to rediscover his scoring touch this weekend when West Ham visit the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League.

No top-flight club has leaked more goals (14) than the Hammers, who picked up a point at Everton on Monday night in their first match under Nuno Espirito Santo. He has never faced West Ham before but has scored twice in two appearances versus the Irons' U21s during his time at Brighton.

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