Darren Bent has claimed that Gabriel Martinelli is playing the best football of his career and he is only getting ‘better and better’ in Arsenal colours.
The former Premier League striker added that the 21-year-old has improved his end product under Mikel Arteta and ‘nine out of ten times’, he is making the right call in the final third.
In 2019, with Unai Emery in the Arsenal dugout, the club secured the unknown talents of the then-teenager from the Brazilian lower leagues for £6 million (Goal).
Given the mystery around the all-action forward, it created a lot of hype around him and what he just might be able to produce in his career.
Well, fast forward to the present and Martinelli is now a key member of an Arsenal side that is currently sitting at the top of the Premier League table.
Bent stated that the Brazil World Cup hopeful is always making the ball talk in the final third and showing big improvements, as he told Premier League Productions (23/10/22 at 1:10 pm).
“He’s working hard and being so direct,” said Bent. “That’s the thing, every time he gets the ball, you just think to yourself ‘he’s going to make something happen’. He goes past somebody or he has a shot at goal.
“He just gives them such an outlet and seems to be getting better and better. I always used to think, at times, he was quick. But the end product wasn’t there.
“I think he is showing it now. when he gets into the final areas, 9/10 times, he is choosing the right decision. He is playing really, really well, it’s probably the best I have seen him in an Arsenal shirt.”
PATIENCE WITH MARTINELLI
A lot went on during Martinelli’s first season at Arsenal and his first time away from home. Emery was sacked months into his arrival, before the pandemic hit the world.
Added to that, he suffered a long-term injury during that period, as the Gunners struggled and fans called for the teenager to be handed a chance.
But Mikel Arteta opted against it, instead, remaining patient with the player and now the rewards are there for all to see.
From 11 Premier League games this season, he has four goals and two assists, including producing a Man of the Match display against Liverpool.
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