Willian has admitted to Arsenal’s official website that he’s a big fan of compatriot Gabriel Martinelli, claiming that his new team-mate is good enough to be one of the Premier League’s best players.
The 19-year-old has taken English football by storm since joining Arsenal last summer.
In his first season, Martinelli managed to score 10 goals across all competitions – including a wonderful solo effort away to Chelsea in January.
The Brazilian wonderkid was sidelined throughout Project Restart, meaning that he didn’t play much of a role in helping the Gunners lift the FA Cup earlier this month.
Nevertheless, Arsenal have a big prospect on their hands – one who Jurgen Klopp called the talent of the century – and new boy Willian has told the club’s official website that greatness could be inevitable, calling for him to be given a first Brazil cap when he is fit.
Willian, who signed this week after being released by Chelsea, said: “He has a great future I think. He can be one of the best players in the Premier League, no doubt.
“It’s because of his quality and also without the ball you can see that he is always trying to help his team and do the job without the ball. So I think he can be one of the best players. I think when he starts to play again, I know he is injured now, but when he starts again, it’s about time for him to go to the Brazilian national team.”
Martinelli’s talent is obvious and it’s reassuring that he’ll be working under Mikel Arteta when he’s fit again.
Arteta is rapidly proving himself to be one of the best young coaches around and it’s fascinating to see how he brings his game to the next level going forward.
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