Cedric Soares has claimed that Arsenal talent Gabriel Martinelli reminds him of Portuguese teammate Cristiano Ronaldo in the way he attacks the goal.
Speaking to the Evening Standard, the 30-year-old right-back revealed that the Brazilian international has shades of Ronaldo to his game, with Martinelli famously admitting that the Manchester United superstar was his idol growing up.
The Arsenal winger has enjoyed another great season, with the attacker becoming a key part of Mikel Arteta’s future plans for the club and becoming a regular starter for the north London side.
With five goals this campaign in the Premier League, Martinelli is improving with each passing game, with the 20-year-old making his debut for the Brazil national team last month in their remaining FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
And for Cedric, Martinelli’s style of play reminds him of Ronaldo, with the defender saying about his Arsenal teammate: “Gabi has this aim for goal. He likes to attack the space, like Cristiano [Ronaldo]. He likes to score goals, like everyone does.”
The fullback added: “But Gabi has this willingness to fight. Even when he doesn’t play, he keeps working the same way. He is an easy young kid to talk with. You talk and you can see he listens to you. He’s talented, but the way he works is fantastic.”
Ronaldo comparison shows how far Martinelli can go at Arsenal
Martinelli’s goal record might be nowhere near as productive as Ronaldo’s but there’s no denying that the 20-year-old attacker could easily become one of the top players in world football at Arsenal if coached correctly.
Indeed, the youngster is one of the jewels in Arsenal’s crown, and after a season of asserting himself in the starting XI under Arteta, Martinelli needs to take the next step in the following campaign and become the regular goalscorer most fans know the Brazilian can become.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
