Gabriel Martinelli has revealed the role Mikel Arteta played in helping his return to the Arsenal side.
The Brazilian burst onto the scene last season, becoming the first teenager to hit double figures for the Gunners since Nicolas Anelka, only to have his rapid rise curtailed by a six month layoff following a knee injury sustained in June.
He is set to continue his comeback from today when the Gunners' begin their FA Cup defence at the Emirates Stadium against Newcastle.
But speaking before the game the 19-year-old revealed just how big a role his manager had in bringing him back into the first team again.
"Mikel talked to me during my recovery," Martinelli told the Daily Mail. "Always calling me to know how I was, even when I returned to Brazil for a time in August.
"When the club needed me, he talked to me again, asking if I was feeling ready to play.
"I said, yes. I still feel a bit of pain in the knee, but the doctors say that it is fine. I've not been able to play 90 minutes yet, but it also needs time. My focus is on getting better and helping Arsenal."
Martinelli made his return to action in the senior side against Everton in the Premier League after playing jus 45 minutes of the Arsenal under-21s' Papa John's Trophy match against AFC Wimbledon.
Since then he has started the Premier League wins against Chelsea and Brighton, as well as the Carabao Cup defeat to Manchester City.
Arteta is a fan of the youngster who counts Jurgen Klopp, Rio Ferdinand and Ronaldinho among his long list of admirers but insisted that the Gunners will need to be cautious in the way they re-integrate him into the team after such a long absence.
"I think we have to go game by game in general," he said in his pre-match press conference.
"I think with individuals and young talents even more, because sometimes as well it's time to give them a little bit of a breather and protect them.
"Like we had to do with Gabi because, for example, he didn't play for seven months and he could not play three games in a row in seven days. It's too much for him."
You can follow live coverage of Arsenal's FA Cup third round tie against Newcastle with our matchday blog.
