Starlet Arsenal signed for £6 million is the best player in his position in the Premier League- Our View

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In our view, Gabriel Martinelli is the best winger in the Premier League this season.

Martinelli is the best winger in the Premier League

Yes, we realise that claiming that Martinelli is the best winger in the Premier League is a hot take.

But if you assess the youngster’s game, you will come to the realisation that it’s high-time we start putting him in this conversation.

For starters, unlike several wide forwards in the league that struggle to often beat their man, the Brazilian is simply one of the best dribblers in the business.

Averaging 2.19 dribbles per game (via FbRef), the 21-year-old is in the top 16% of wingers for the most dribbles completed per 90 across players in his position in the top 5 European Leagues in the last year.

Unlike say Liverpool’s Luis Diaz who seems to only be a specialist at leaving defenders for dead, the Arsenal forward is also an expert at running in behind defences.

This trait is also rather rare in several wingers in the Premier League, with even Gunners teammate Bukayo Saka often lacking in this aspect.

While Martinelli’s strike against Manchester United was disallowed, it was intriguing to see how he ran behind the defence and put the ball into the back of the net.

It isn’t a hot take to suggest that perhaps barring Raheem Sterling, Martinelli is the best winger in the Premier League when it comes to this very trait.

Both the £6 million (GOAL) man’s on and off-the-ball game is surprisingly complete for such a young player.

Defensively as well, the youngster is an absolute workhorse.

In fact, Kevin De Bruyne once famously pointed out how Manchester City expected the gifted wonderkid to work his socks off for the entirety of the game when the two sides faced each other in 2019 (via Twitter).

It is Martinelli’s elite pressing that makes him such a favourite of Arteta’s as well.

Perhaps the only feature where the Brazilian can up his game is his end product.

But a return of 5 league goals and 2 assists for a player that does not take set-pieces is an impressive return.

Assessing his all-round game, it just isn’t a hot take to suggest Martinelli is the best winger in the Premier League.

In terms of completeness, it seems almost impossible to overshadow the gem Arsenal have on their hands.