Gabriel Martinelli is becoming as devastating as Bukayo Saka

Gabriel Martinelli has had a sensational start to the Premier League season, with the Brazilian closing the gap on fellow winger Bukayo Saka.

It’s official—Gabriel Martinelli has arrived in the Premier League. The Brazilian winger’s talent has always been clear, but injuries had previously prevented the Brazilian from emerging as the driving force behind Mikel Arteta’s Gunners.

The 21-year-old, who’s started every league game for the table-toppers thus far in 2022/23, is now coming of age in an Arsenal shirt.

Gabriel Martinelli is becoming as devastating as Bukayo Saka

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp picked Martinelli for stardom as he once labelled Martinelli the “talent of the century” after the Brazilian’s outrageous display back in 2019 against Liverpool in a 5-5 Carabao Cup loss at Anfield.

"“Martinelli’s pretty much the same age [as Liverpool defender Sepp van de Berg], but he’s a talent of the century, he’s an incredible striker, so it’s really difficult,” Klopp said via football.london.“It was not in this game only. I watch a lot of football, so I saw the Europa League games of Arsenal.”"

That was three years ago, and the Liverpool manager’s comments are coming to fruition.
It has been the Bukayo Saka show for the last couple of seasons. The Englishman has taken all before him and has become one of the best wingers in the Premier League. Martinelli was often in the 21-year-old’s shadow. Not now.

There is a case to be made that Martinelli is almost on Saka’s level. Such has been the rise in performance from the Brazilian that he, like Saka last season, is now taking over games.

Opposing defences are trying to stop him as well as Saka. The Brazilian has led one of the best right-backs over the last five years in Trent Alexander-Arnold on a merry dance each time he has faced him.

Martinelli has scored four goals and assisted twice in his 11 games in all competitions so far, and it looks like he is hungry for more.

His pace, tenacity, incredible energy, want for physicality, and ability to hit the back of the net when called upon all point to yet another superstar winger that Arteta has at his disposal.

Make no mistake about it, Martinelli has caught up to Bukayo Saka, and with the pair now hitting their stride with devastating effect, the Premier League better watch out because these two are here to stay.