Arsenal’s Exciting Plan for Youngster Dubbed “The Next Saka” Emerges

Arsenal’s Exciting Plan for Youngster Dubbed “The Next Saka” Emerges

Marquinhos, a winger for Arsenal, is on the verge of joining Norwich City on loan for the remainder of the season.

The young Brazilian kicked off his Arsenal career with a bang, scoring on his Europa League group stage debut against FC Zurich in September of last year.

Marquinhos will have to drop down a division in order to gain sufficient playing time, as his initial performance was not as impressive as many had anticipated.

Martin Keown, a Gunners legend, compared the winger to fellow young Arsenal star Buyako Saka following the winger’s debut. Keown told BT Sport prior to another one of the club’s Europa League group games: “Marquinhos is not playing tonight but he played in that very first game in Europe exceptionally well.

“It was like Saka in that position, it’s almost a copycat performance. That’s what you’re really looking for. He’s got a huge future ahead of him. That’s a real opportunity now ahead of him. Saka is only a couple of years older himself, but such is the quality he’s going to get chances.”

Teammate Granit Xhaka also praised the Brazilian winger, joining teammate Martin Keown in praising the teenager.

First-team regular Xhaka predicted that Marquinhos would experience the same meteoric rise to fame as his compatriot Gabriel Martinelli when he first arrived at the club.

Xhaka made the assessment shortly after the 19-year-old joined Arsenal from Sao Paulo, “He reminds me of Gabi Martinelli when he first came, the midfielder told Arsenal’s match day programme.

“Everyone was saying, ‘yeah, he will go to the Under-23s first’ and stuff like this, but how Gabi adapted at this level was unbelievable, and I have the same feeling with Marquinhos as well.

“For his age, he is very developed physically, very fast, good left foot. Of course, he needs to adapt to this level first, this country as well, but I see a big future for this guy.”

Unfortunately for Marquinhos, he has not achieved Martinelli’s feat of securing a starting position without first going out on loan.

As a result of Arsenal’s acquisition of Leandro Trossard from Brighton this month, Marquinhos has fallen further down the Gunners’ attacking pecking order and is unlikely to make significant strides in the second half of the season if he remains in North London.

Cedric Soares’ loan move to Fulham is still in limbo ahead of Tuesday’s transfer deadline, so the Brazilian may not be the only Gunners player to depart late in the window.

Arsenal’s Exciting Plan for Youngster Dubbed “The Next Saka” Emerges