Arsenal: Whatever it is, Gabriel Martinelli has it

Gabriel Martinelli popped up with Arsenal’s only goal of Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Sheffield United. Whatever it is, the 18-year-old has it.

Sometimes, you just know. When Lionel Messi made his Barcelona debut. When Wayne Rooney scored a hat-trick in his Champions League debut. When Cesc Fabregas conducted the Arsenal midfield as a teenager alongside the inimitable Patrick Vieira. Sometimes, you just know. The player is special.

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Gabriel Martinelli is the next. The 18-year-old was signed as a no-name teenager from the depths of Brazilian footballer for £6 million in the summer. Very little was expected of him. But immediately, his talent shone out.

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Martinelli impressed in the preseason, he then scored on his League Cup debut, his Europa League debut, and his Premier League debut. And now he has scored his second league goal, this time in Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Sheffield United, volleying home Bukayo Saka’s floated cross at the back post.

What was curious about the goal was Martinelli’s position. Even though he started on the left flank, Martinelli first found himself in a central area on the edge of the 18-yard box and then drifted towards the far post, further to the right and away from his starting position, in behind the Sheffield United defence and into the vacant space.

The reason why he did that? He sniffed out the opportunity. The space was at the far post, in behind the defensive line. Martinelli sought it out, found it, and exploited it. It is the movement of a natural goalscorer.

Martinelli was not especially impressive in the first half. He struggled to keep hold of possession at times and was largely isolated throughout. But then he produced the moment of the match to score Arsenal’s only game. It is the quintessential performance of someone who has the ‘it’ factor. And his head coach was rather impressed with his outing:

"“He’s an 18-year-old kid with all the enthusiasm but as well, he’s so brave to make decisions, to threaten the opponent every time. He’s all the time in the middle of the goal, waiting for an opportunity to come. The fact he hasn’t played 90 minutes for a while – since his injury – but is still in the way he went about every single action is impressive.”"

Whether Martinelli can forge a starting role for himself in north London remains to be seen. He only started here because Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was suspended. But while this season might not be the campaign that Martinelli truly sets alight, the signs are there: Martinelli is special.

Whatever ‘it’ is, Martinelli has it. He is a special talent, a special footballer, and could well have a special career. And Arsenal will be the welcome benefactors.