The Brazilian wonderkid could be worth a fortune to Arsenal over the coming years.
In the space of two first-half minutes, Gabriel Martinelli showed why he might be Arsenal’s most exciting player over the coming years.
First, the 18-year-old made a near-post dash and headed home a brilliant Kieran Tierney cross from an acute angle.
Minutes later, the Brazilian left the Standard Liege goalkeeper rooted after working the ball on to his right foot and curling into the corner of the net.
Martinelli, who was Raul Sanllehi’s first signing this past summer, now has four goals in two competitive starts for Arsenal and, having joined for only £6 million [The Telegraph], it’s beginning to look like the Gunners pulled off one hell of a bargain here.
In this climate, £6 million is peanuts for an elite Premier League club, one who committed to paying a club-record £72 million on Nicolas Pepe a month after Martinelli moved to North London.
Pepe was undeniably the marquee addition by Arsenal this past summer, but his South American counterpart – who also scored twice in the League Cup last month – is certainly looking better value for money at this moment in time.
Cynics might argue that it’s only the Europa League and therefore his brace might be taken with a pinch of salt. That being said, in Belgium’s top flight, Liege are only one point behind a Club Brugge side that drew 2-2 at Real Madrid in midweek. The Belgian outfit are no mugs, but Martinelli – who doesn’t turn 19 until June – made them look it.
Only Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang [8] has scored more goals for Arsenal across all competitions than him so far this season.
English football has weeded out some very bright prospects down the years, but the teenager has adapted magnificently well to life in North London and for £6 million, it’s clear that his value could easily skyrocket in the very near future.
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