It is difficult not to get carried away when Gabriel Martinelli plays. Arsenal legend, Ian Wright started the debate, firing a broadside at Manchester United and Barcelona, two club sides who rejected the new football prodigy labeled ‘talent of the century’ by award winning Liverpool coach, Jurgen Klopp.
What do they smoke in Barcelona or Manchester United? Asked Wrighty who plundered 189 goals for Arsenal.How can they reject this boy wonder? If nothing else there must have been something that Manchester United and Barcelona saw in the youngster that convinced them not to make a move. Agreed,Barcelona has launched an inquest into how they missed the boy but United should sack their board for failing to see this super talent after doing double trial with them’’ the Arsenal legend insisted, pointing out that Martinelli has scored more than the entire Manchester United frontline in his first season
‘They could have got him for less than five million pounds. He took the entire Chelsea team on a run of 75 meters and finished the effort with aplomb at just 18 years? He would be a contender for the best player in the world in less than three years,says Jurgen Klopp.
Increasingly though, Martinelli is making them look very foolish indeed. Whatever your doubts may be how could you fail to see the explosive pace, instinctive finishing and composure in front of goal that has made the 18-year-old into a star mere months into his time in England? That it is debatable whether tonight was the high point in Martinelli’s flourishing career says everything about the heights the young forward has hit so far in north London. There was the stunning debut against Nottingham Forest, the fearless leading of the line at Anfield and the hard-running rewarded with a goal against West Ham.
What was different tonight was that at last Martinelli got to shine on the big stage. His goal was the perfect moment to announce himself, an explosive run and calm finish, the cherry being the back-pedalling N’Golo Kante collapsing to the floor, seemingly blown away by this precocious youngster who had set his mind on goal.
Another Arsenal legend, Martin Keown lavished praise on Arsenal‘s teenage striker Gabriel Martinelli and insists the young Brazilian now has the club ‘in the palm of his hands’ after his display in their 2-2 draw at Chelsea.
Arsenal were rocked early on when they were reduced to 10 men but they responded impressively and it was Martinelli who was the shining light, scoring a superb first equaliser and leading by example despite being the youngest player on the pitch.
For Keown, Arsenal’s future is to be built around Martinelli and his ‘outstanding’ performance against Chelsea is evidence that, for his age, he is among the best teenagers in European football right now.
‘That young man, he has the club in the palm of his hands,’ Keown said. ‘That young man, he has the club in the palm of his hands,’ Keown said.
‘He can take it wherever he wants. He was the youngest player on the pitch out there for Arsenal and he showed the experienced players how it was done.
‘I was here in ’99 when Kanu scored three goals and that looked dead and buried tonight when they were 1-0 down.
‘He really is absolutely outstanding. He was certain he was going to put it away (his goal).
‘His instinct for goal, his movement off the ball, show me another 18-year-old in Europe doing this? Manchester United had him on trial and didn’t take him… that raises questions.’
Ten-man Arsenal level thanks to an ❄️cool finish from Gabriel Martinelli!
The Brazilian runs the length of the field and slots home his 10th goal of the season 🔥🔥🔥
Fellow BT Sport pundits Joe Cole and Rio Ferdinand were also effusive in their praise of the young Brazilian and for former Chelsea winger Cole, he feels this Martinelli-inspired performance can ‘galvanise’ the club moving forward.
His strike took him to 10 goals for the season, making him the first Arsenal teenager to reach that figure since Nicolas Anelka back in 1998-99.
‘You feel like this could galvanise the whole club, the spirit was unbelievable,’ he added. ‘Massive, massive player for Arsenal and I have seen him twice now, great player.
‘I think Arteta has something in his team. I think he gets them back in, shows them Martinelli’s movement, and say this is the standard for Arsenal Football Club.
‘I still don’t think they are capable of getting in the Champions League, that’s gone, but they need to build for the future. The new Arsenal.’
Martinelli looked like he may be sacrificed after David Luiz’s early red card but Arteta persisted with him and his work-rate, as well as his equalising goal to make it 1-1, vindicated the decision to keep him on.
For Ferdinand, the teenager’s performance was a lesson to his peers.
Brings kids down here and get them to watch someone like him,’ the former Manchester United centre back said.
‘He is showing that desire that other young kids, you need to see that. You play where you can get in the team then you show your quality. It is refreshing.’
Martinelli’s goal came from a Chelsea corner and after the ball was headed clear, the Brazilian broke clear two-on-one.
As N’Golo Kante, usually so reliable for Chelsea, slipped, Martinelli continued his 67-yard burst before showing a coolness way beyond his years to slot into the bottom corner past Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Chelsea thought they had nicked a winner when Cesar Azpilicueta poked past Bernd Leno in the 84th minute, only for Hector Bellerin to level it up with a stunning finish three minutes later.
For Arsenal icon Keown, this was a defining night for Arteta’s young group of players.
‘You watch that team tonight and you are seeing the future,’ he added. ‘Martinelli, his goal, the passion, the spirit, we have been waiting for this for a long time.
‘Chelsea didn’t really press them and Arsenal dominated for large periods. The Martinelli goal, that encapsulates the newfound spirit that is now with Arsenal.’
The draw keeps Arsenal in 10th, 10 points adrift of Chelsea in fourth as attention now turns to the weekend FA Cup action.
Arsenal make the trip to the south coast to face Bournemouth while a disappointed Chelsea travel to face Championship side Hull City