Arsenal Vs Sheffield United: Can Gabriel Martinelli do it again?

With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang suspended, Gabriel Martinelli could be in line to start against Sheffield United. Can the Arsenal starlet do it again and prove just how special he is?

When Arsenal signed an unknown French midfielder from the depths of French football for £6 million, the inevitable response of ‘here we go again, the Gunners signing an apparently talented teenager that no one had heard of while ignoring their real problems’ could be heard rippling through the fanbase. Little did everyone know that this French teenager would have an immediate impact.

Find the latest episode of the Pain in the Arsenal Podcast here — The Rebuild 2.0

Matteo Guendouzi is now considered one of the brightest talents in world football. He is a regular first-team contributor and is set to be the future of the midfield in north London.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• Mikel Arteta provides Gabriel Martinelli injury update after Everton win

A year later, Arsenal attempted to repeat their trick, this time with an 18-year-old Gabriel Martinelli. And if the early signs say anything, they might just have done. Martinelli, signed from equal obscurity for a similar fee to Guendouzi, is the club’s second-highest scorer, scored on his debut in the EFL Cup, Europa League and Premier League, and is well on his way to stardom. It is completely and utterly shocking, just like Guendouzi last year.

And now Martinelli might have the opportunity to make only his fourth league start of the season and his first under Mikel Arteta. With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang suspended for Saturday’s match against Sheffield United, Martinelli is in line to feature. Arteta was asked about the prospect of the teenager deputising for Aubameyang in his pre-match press conference. He did not completely shut down the idea:

"“He’s having an impact every time he’s coming on, but it’s not just him. It’s others players like Reiss and Nico too, so whoever players there on Saturday has to step in and has to be thinking that they need to make the difference for the team.”"

Whether Martinelli is the man who benefits from Aubameyang’s absence or not remains to be seen. He certainly looked sharp enough in his last two substitute appearances, driving forwards in that inside-left role that Arteta has asked Aubameyang to play since his arrival. But if he does, do not be surprised if you are, well, surprised by his performance.

Throughout his nine months at the club, all Martinelli has done is shock people. From his performances in the preseason, dribbling past defenders, running relentlessly, to his goalscoring knack in the EFL Cup and Europa League, to his igniting debut Premier League goal against West Ham United, Martinelli has continually upset the odds and showed that he is more than people think of him.

He has been utterly shocking, in the best possible way. And he has a chance to continue his surprising tour on Saturday. Don’t bet against him making the highlight reel once more.