Jamie Redknapp has highlighted an Arsenal player he believes needs to step up.

After finishing as runners-up in the last two Premier League campaigns, Mikel Arteta’s team is aiming to finally claim the top spot this season.

Redknapp, however, suggested that the Gunners are overly dependent on Bukayo Saka, who has consistently delivered standout performances.

Saka was forced off during the first half of Arsenal’s 5-1 victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday due to a hamstring issue. His potential absence in the upcoming fixtures poses a significant challenge for Arteta.

The winger has been pivotal this season, contributing five goals and ten assists in 15 Premier League matches.

Jamie Redknapp has named the Arsenal player who he feels has to contribute more

Redknapp feels Arsenal are too reliant on Bukayo Saka, who suffered an injury v Crystal Palace

According to Redknapp, Gabriel Martinelli needs to perform to a higher standard.

Martinelli replaced Saka at Selhurst Park and proceeded to find the net as Arsenal ran out 5-1 winners.

However, the Brazilian has lacked consistency this season and has often been somewhat predictable to defend against.

Speaking before the game on Sky Sports, Redknapp said: ‘You can’t be so one-sided. Because what they will do is just double up on him and making it difficult. Every team meeting is ‘How do we stop Bukayo Saka?’.

‘But if Martinelli was to find form, then you’d have a major problem. Martinelli has got to do more! This has been a problem for a while now. If the full-back is quick, he struggles to get past him. And he gets the ball and knocks it back to his full-back.

‘He needs to find way of going past a defender and crossing balls into the box. He seems to have come to a crossroads at the moment. Confidence is low.’

And Martinelli went some way to answering Redknapp with a goal in the 60th minute of Arsenal’s comfortable victory over Palace, which could give him a significant confidence boost.

So far this season Martinelli has mainly been competing for Leandro Trossard for a starting berth on the left wing.

According to Redknapp, Gabriel Martinelli needs to start making more of an impact

However, Martinelli was deployed on the right wing after replacing Saka against Palace and could now get more opportunities in that position.

There was much excitement about Martinelli when he first burst onto the scene at Arsenal following his arrival from Ituano in 2019.

Now aged 23, Martinelli is at a stage where more is expected of him.

Arsenal’s next game is on December 27, when they will host Ipswich.