TalkSPORT pundits say 22-year-old Arsenal player is so fast he’s almost ‘uncatchable’

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Arsenal looked off the pace against Chelsea on Saturday although one player who came out of the match with some credit was Gabriel Martinelli.

Speaking on TalkSPORT’s YouTube channel, pundit Perry Groves and journalist Sam Matterface were discussing the match.

Chelsea may feel like they should have taken all three points off Mikel Arteta’s side given how well they played for the first 75 minutes.

It was only a mistake from Robert Sanchez that gave the Gunners a chance to get back into the match.

Declan Rice pounced on a loose pass and expertly slotted into the empty net.

Leandro Trossard scored a late equaliser after a fantastic cross from Bukayo Saka but it was Gabriel Martinelli that caught the TalkSPORT pundit’s attention.

Before the Brazilian was substituted, he looked like the only Arsenal player willing to take on a man and use his pace to try and test Malo Gusto.

The young Frenchman did well against the 22-year-old, however, his lapse in concentration later in the match gifted Arsenal a vital point.

Matterface and Groves both admitted they couldn’t believe how fast Martinelli was after this match.

He’s certainly no slouch but it’s not an aspect of his game he’s that well known for, primarily because Arsenal tend to face defences that always sit so deep.

Arsenal star Martinelli praised for electric pace

Speaking about the young winger, Sam Matterface said: “I don’t know what you think but every time I see [Gabriel] Martinelli sprint I think, ‘Oh my god’.

“He’s so fast, isn’t he? He’s almost uncatchable. And even the fastest players in the Chelsea team could get nowhere near him. I mean he is so rapid, he’s off the charts.”

Perry Groves simply added: “[He’s] Absolutely lightning.”

In Martinelli and Saka, Arsenal have two players with electric pace that could play at the very top for years to come on each wing.

There’s an argument about who is the more talented forward but Arteta is likely to be relying on both of them for a long time.

Martinelli hasn’t been clocked in one of the top 10 fastest sprints of the season so far, however, one player Arsenal have been linked with has.

Mikel Arteta might want to adapt his tactics in future to make the most of Martinelli’s speed.

However, his close control and ability to beat a man means he’s still essential even in games where Arsenal are facing low blocks.