Arsenal prodigy tipped to become ‘a major player in world football for years to come’

Add as preferred source on Google

Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli has been described as one of the top five Premier League wonderkids by Rio Ferdinand.

The 18-year-old, who joined Arsenal from Brazilian side Ituano FC last summer for £6million, has thoroughly impressed at the Emirates Stadium since his arrival.

With 10 goals and four assists from 26 Gunners appearances, he has become the first teenage goalscorer to reach double figures for Arsenal since Nicolas Anelka in 1998-99.

Indeed, Martinelli has already been linked to Real Madrid, the Daily Mail claiming the Bernabeu side was interested in him during the January transfer window.

As reported by The Mirror, Ferdinand named Martinelli alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold, Phil Foden, Reece James and Mason Greenwood in his exclusive five-man shortlist.

With the likes of Declan Rice, Mason Mount, Matteo Guendouzi, Bukayo Saka and Dwight McNeil missing out, Ferdinand’s list is of especially high calibre.

“The second one (after Alexander-Arnold) I’m going for is Martinelli,” wrote Ferdinand. “I watched him against Bournemouth away, I watched him against Chelsea.

“He is a proper player, I think he’ll be a major player in world football in years to come. To be 18-years-old and do what he is doing.

“The goal against Chelsea alone, he’s got the composure to slot it. A great player, but his awareness and intelligence is mad.”

TBR View:

Despite not turning 19 until June, Martinelli has proven he’s a cut above and has been one of Arsenal’s most impressive performers this season.

With Ferdinand having plied his trade at the top level, at a club whose academy regularly produces top players, he knows what it takes to be a player head and shoulders above the rest.

And describing Martinelli as ‘a major player in world football in years to come’ is huge praise for him and for Arsenal, who snapped him up for such a low fee last summer.