Paul Merson has compared Gabriel Martinelli to Thierry Henry due to how he opened his body up to open the scoring for Arsenal against Leicester City.
It’s safe to say that this is as big a compliment as the £180,000-a-week starlet could get, as the Frenchman is widely regarded as the greatest player to ever play for the club as well as in the Premier League.
During his time at Arsenal, Thierry Henry typified the type of finish where one opens their body up before slotting the ball into the bottom corner, as Gabriel Martinelli did, according to Paul Merson against Leicester.
Merson says Martinelli goal vs Leicester reminded him of Arsenal icon Henry
The Brazilian international has been far from his electric best since the World Cup, with pundits such as Gabby Agbonlahor, Alan Smith, Paul Merson and Jamie O’Hara calling him out for it.
However, Merson, who previously slated Gabriel Martinelli has said that his goal for Arsenal against Leicester reminded him of Thierry Henry on Sky Sports.
“What a finish. Martinelli runs onto it, brings himself around, Henry-style, and bends it into the far corner, but then he gets a stamp on the knee after that. Great start to the second half.”
Huge goal for his confidence
Ultimately, it cannot be denied that the talented winger has not been in the terrific touch he was during the first half of the season.
But after scoring a goal that made Paul Merson reminisce to the days of Thierry Henry at Arsenal against Leicester, Gabriel Martinelli must be feeling on top of the world.
While many have pledged for Leandro Trossard to take his place in the side and perhaps justifiably so, the former Ituano forward silenced a number of his critics with a well-taken finish during Saturday afternoon’s clash.
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