Brazil’s national media issues verdict on Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli after he played as a striker last night
Last night, Gabriel Martinelli, a standout player from Arsenal, assumed the role of a striker for Brazil in their match against Colombia, delivering an impressive performance.
The team, led by Fernando Diniz, faced a shortage of key players due to injuries, with Neymar and Richarlison recovering from surgery, and Gabriel Jesus not being match-fit.
This circumstance provided Martinelli with an opportunity to showcase his skills up front, and he swiftly made an impact.
Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli impresses as a striker for Brazil
In 2019, Arsenal secured the signing of Gabriel Martinelli from Ituano, a fourth-tier Brazilian club. Initially, under Unai Emery’s management, the young talent primarily featured as a number nine and excelled in that role.
However, since Mikel Arteta took charge, Martinelli has predominantly played as a left-winger, gaining recognition as one of the Premier League’s top players in that position.
In the recent match against Colombia, Brazil’s manager Diniz opted to utilize Martinelli as a striker.
Remarkably, it took the Arsenal player just over four minutes to score, marking his inaugural goal at the senior level for his national team. Globo Esporte, a Brazilian media outlet, expressed significant admiration for his performance.
They gave Martinelli a 7/10 rating and wrote: “He scored for the first time in his eighth game with the Seleção shirt – only his second as a starter.
“He was one of the best in Brazil, not just for his goal.”
QUE SEJA O PRIMEIRO DE MUITOS! ⚽🇧🇷 O MARTINELLI TAVA MERECENDO DEMAAAAIS! ESSE MLK JOGA MUITO! 🔥🔥 #SeleçãoBrasileira pic.twitter.com/twQzx1MdsP
— TNT Sports BR (@TNTSportsBR) November 17, 2023
Martinelli could save millions for Arsenal
Several pundits have strongly recommended that Arsenal should acquire a new striker during the upcoming January transfer window.
Many pundits argue that Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah may not be of the caliber required to secure the Premier League title for Arsenal. Consequently, the club has been linked with high-profile strikers like Ivan Toney and Victor Osimhen, both of whom come with significant price tags.
Following his noteworthy performance for Brazil in the recent match, there is a growing sentiment that Mikel Arteta should contemplate utilizing Gabriel Martinelli as a striker in the future. While acknowledging the need for improvement in his hold-up play, proponents assert that the 22-year-old possesses all the other essential qualities for success in that role.
Drawing a parallel to Arsene Wenger’s successful deployment of Alexis Sanchez through the middle after initially positioning him as a left winger, there is optimism that Martinelli could have a similar impact if given the opportunity in the striker position.
Brazil’s national media issues verdict on Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli after he played as a striker last night
