Former Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas agrees with former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand over Gunners star Gabriel Martinelli.
Martinelli has impressed for Arsenal after coming in to feature in the last two games, a cameo in the defeat to Everton and most recently, a start in the surprise 3-1 win over Chelsea on Boxing Day.
Mikel Arteta may feel like he has unearthed a gem in the 19-year-old winger, who joined the Gunners in the summer of 2019, but many Arsenal fans have been signing the youngster's praises for some time.
And so have pundits and former players with former Man United defender turned pundit Ferdinand saying back in November: "To be 18-years-old, doing what he's doing; the goal against Chelsea alone, he runs from the edge of his box - a set-piece against his team - he takes it to the other end,” he said on Instagram.
“Normally, your legs are gone by then, you've got no energy and no juice in your legs, but he has the composure to slot it.
“Great player, but the awareness of the way he plays, the way he moves on the pitch, the intelligence to receive the ball, the positions he takes up.”
And former Gunners midfielder Fabregas is also a fan of Martinelli. The Spaniard did a Twitter Q and A earlier this year when he was asked: "Which one player in the current Arsenal squad you wish you could play with now and why?"
In no doubt, Fabregas simply responded: "Martinelli."
Martinelli hadn't featured in any of Arsenal's first 13 games of the season, but he came off the bench against Everton before starting against Chelsea in what was perhaps the Gunners' best performance of the season so far.
The Brazilian is now a real contender to earn his second Premier League start of the season on Tuesday evening when Arsenal take on Brighton away from home.
