Some Arsenal fans on Twitter aren’t happy with Gabriel Martinelli.
The 20-year-old gem missed a spot in Brazil’s Copa America squad earlier this summer, but he is still representing his country after being picked for the Olympics.
The Selecao drew 0-0 with Ivory Coast a little earlier today.
And the Arsenal attacker won a foul which led to Eboue Kouassi being sent off on 79 minutes.
But some fans of the North London club aren’t happy that their star youngster even went in for the 50-50 to begin with.
Here’s how some Arsenal supporters reacted to the footage:
Valid criticism?
Well, no.
You can understand the fans’ frustration.
This could be a big season for Martinelli in North London and Mikel Arteta’s side kick off their Premier League campaign against Brentford in three weeks.
But by the same token, you can’t criticise Martinelli for this.
It isn’t in his nature to do things by halves. He’s all in in everything that he does on the field and although he could have got injured, asking him to shy away from 50-50 challenges is like asking him to not be the player that they have come to love over the past two years.
Martinelli isn’t so popular just because he’s brilliant. Mesut Ozil is one of the most gifted footballers to ever pull on an Arsenal shirt, and yet his popularity – or lack of – certainly didn’t reflect that and that’s because fans also appreciate application.
And that’s all the South American sensation is guilty of here, trying.
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