Unai Emery says he was convinced 20-year-old Arsenal youngster was superb

Add as preferred source on Google

Former Arsenal manager Unai Emery has explained in a recent interview that he knew Gabrielle Martinelli was a player who would “grow”.

In July 2019, when Emery was in charge at the Emirates, Martinelli joined the Gunners from Brazilian side Ituano, where he had scored 10 goals in 34 games after making his debut in 2017.

Although the Brazilian international didn’t start a Premier League game under the Spaniard, Arsenal’s number 35 scored seven goals and provided two assists from his 11 appearances, during the time the Villarreal boss was in north London.

That’s Martinelli’s best goalscoring ratio of any Arsenal manager he has played under.

In an interview with the Athletic, Emery spoke about the emergence of younger players during his time at the club and how they have emerged into key players under Mikel Arteta, including Martinelli.

The 50-year-old said: “That was the change. Saka and Smith Rowe began to play with me,” he says.

“I gave Saka his Premier League debut against Fulham, on January 1, when he was 17.

“You had to work with these young players, to replace those who were there before. Gabriel Martinelli, who arrived then too — I knew he was a player who would grow.”

Upon signing for Emery’s Arsenal, Martinelli revealed how he has his modelled his game on one of football’s all-time greats Cristiano Ronaldo.

“I model my game on Cristiano Ronaldo,” Martinelli said.

“He is a player who works hard, pushing himself to the next level. Always in the run for titles and individual trophies.”

Martinelli’s teammate Cedric Soares paid the 20-year-old the ultimate compliment by comparing the Brazilian to the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.