Gabriel Martinelli’s involvement in the Martin Odegaard goal against Southampton shows he equips a world-class ability that will help him succeed at Arsenal.
The Brazilian instinctively blocked Jan Bednarek who looked a surety to head the ball clear, after Kieran Tierney delivered a dangerous cross.
However, Martinelli blocked the Southampton defender’s route to the ball, which gave Odegaard a free header at goal and he finished with excellence.
The goal gave Arsenal a healthy 2-0 advantage and calmed the nerves of the Gunners as they eventually came out comfortable 3-0 winners.
Martinelli was handed his third consecutive start in the Premier League after impressing during his cameo against Newcastle, where he scored an excellent volley from a pinpoint Takehiro Tomiyasu cross.
The Brazilian had been out of favour under Arteta and struggled to find a consistent run of games over the last year. His absence has been mainly down to injury after suffering a major knee problem during the 2019/20 season.
Since returning from the sidelines, Martinelli had struggled to find the form he was displaying when he first signed for the club, but in the recent stretch of games, he has started to show why he was so highly regarded during his first season in north London.
And that particular moment when he blocked Bednarek against Southampton highlighted the world-class ability that he possesses.
This is a notion that has previously been supported by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who described the Brazilian as being an “Incredible striker.”
To instinctively block Bednarek, shows just how high of a footballing IQ Martinelli has, and it is something that cannot be taught, it only comes naturally.
The 20-year-old has bags of potential, and to be so instinctive at such a young age shows that he has all the tools to be an Arsenal great for the future.
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