‘If I’m honest’… Pundit says £6m Arsenal player isn’t actually world-class right now

Add as preferred source on Google

Arsenal are top of the Premier League at the moment and they have absolutely dominated their Champions League group too.

Make no mistake about it, the Gunners are one of the best teams in the world at the moment, and, as with any top team, they have a number of world-class players at their disposal.

The likes of Bukayo Saka and William Saliba are amongst the best in the world, but, according to Adrian Clarke, speaking on the Handbrake Off Podcast, Gabriel Martinelli isn’t quite in that echelon of player just yet.

Clarke says that Martinelli isn’t quite world-class right now, claiming that he’s not one of the best two players in the world in his position.

Martinelli isn’t world-class.

Clarke shared his verdict on the £6m man.

“I think world-class is if you have a squad of 23 for the entire world do they get in it? That’s a strict guideline, but it should be. I think Saka does get in it, I think he is one of the best two in his position in the world. Odegaard is knocking on the door, that’s where I’m at with it,” Clarke said.

“I wouldn’t put Martinelli in it if I’m honest, I think Rice has a chance, Rice and Rodri are the two best in the Premier League, and on current form Saliba is the best in the Prem, so he gets in.”

Getting there

If we’re being as strict as Clarke is with our definition of what world-class means, then Martinelli isn’t quite there.

However, at the same time, he’s just 22 years old and he’s well on his way.

Martinelli is a fantastic player, and if he continues to improve at the rate he has shown in recent years, it may not be long before he is considered one of the very best on the planet.

He has so much to his game, and if he can just fine-tune everything, he’ll be a star.

Martinelli may not be world-class yet, but it could be a different story when you revisit this conversation in 12 months’ time.