Mikel Arteta says one Arsenal youngster’s attitude has really wowed him

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has praised Gabriel Martinelli following his goal for the Gunners against Newcastle on Saturday.

The Arsenal forward has struggled for game time in recent months, but took his chance wonderfully after coming on against the Magpies.

Arteta brought Martinelli on as a replacement for Bukayo Saka, who opened the scoring but later had to come off due to a knock.

Within moments of taking to the pitch, the 20-year-old had doubled Arsenal’s lead with a wonderful first-time volley.

After the game, Arteta lauded Martinelli’s attitude and admitted that the youngster “deserves more”.

He told the Arsenal media team: “It is a big moment for him and I’m especially happy for him because how he behaves.

“Some players are respectful when you make some decisions, and some players are very respectful, like he is.

“He’s patient, but at the same time he’s really pushing and challenging and it makes every decision that you make even harder because he deserves more.

“I’m really pleased because he really helped the team to get the points today.”

Martinelli joined Arsenal from Brazilian side Ituano in 2019 for just £6million, and shone in his first season.

He scored 10 times in his first season, becoming the first teenage goalscorer to reach double figures for Arsenal since Nicolas Anelka in 1998-99.

Martinelli struggled for game time last term, but could Saturday be the day he turned a corner under Arteta at the Emirates?