Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli Provides Injury Update

Why Gabriel Martinelli is Different

Discussing the obvious point first, he’s got incredible ability.

A counterpoint to any Martinelli hype is that any half-decent player would stand out in a positive light when surrounded by mediocrity. That argument has been used for Bukayo Saka, too.

It needn’t be mentioned that the team is poor and only a select few aren’t, but Martinelli isn’t just better than the rest, he’s miles clear.

All facets of his game come to him so naturally, from instinct on the ball to reading of space off it. He adds movement to a static Arsenal forward line, energetic in every phase of play whether it’s the persistent pressing or willingness to sprint to the corner flag to chase a loose ball.

Throw into that the raw talent he has with both feet, neat close control and accomplished finishing, and you’ve got the inner workings of a player who will be among the best in Europe at some stage of his career.

But while those traits undoubtedly set him apart, they wouldn’t be noticeable were it not for his personality. It’s not a comparison based on individual ability or on the impact they’ve made in the Premier League, but the infectious nature of Martinelli is reminiscent of Bruno Fernandes at Manchester United.

Obviously not on the same scale, the impulsive nature of his approach is nonetheless infectious. Players see that work-rate and hunger and follow suit. Fernandes is on a different level, but there was a period in the first half where you could see the rest of the Arsenal side taking after the 19-year-old, hounding City’s central midfielders on the ball and forcing turnovers.

It shouldn’t be that a 19-year-old sets the tone (where else have we said this?) but that’s how it sadly is in this team.

Martinelli will give Arsenal new impetus for the second half of the season. That’s not unwarranted pressure or a declaration that Arteta’s side will suddenly soar up the table, just that it’s impossible to ignore talent such as his when it’s staring you right in the face.