Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Football London
Football London
Sport
Josh Challies & Paul Clarke

Michael Owen highlights what makes Arsenal wonderkid Gabriel Martinelli more than a goalscorer

Michael Owen has lavished praise on Arsenal starlet Gabriel Martinelli after his sublime brace in the first half of the Gunners' Europa League clash at home to Standard Liege.

Martinelli joined Arsenal for just £6m in the summer transfer window from Ituano and has only improved his reputation with each opportunity he has been handed by Unai Emery this season.

The 18-year-old has made one substitute appearance in the Premier League so far this season, while he was making his first start in the Europa League for the Gunners after netting twice for Arsenal in their 5-0 win over Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup last month.

Martinelli was again on the scoresheet this evening at the Emirates as he showed great movement to head home a cross from the left, before he provided a great first touch in the box and fired home with his right foot for the second goal.

The forward also provided a fantastic assist for Dani Ceballos in the second half.

Former Liverpool star turned pundit Michael Owen was in the BT Sport studio watching the game and the England great could not stop himself from heaping praise on the teenage sensation.

"He (Martinelli) looks like a talent. I really like this lad, the ball is almost being prepared out wide and he’s there, wanting to get involved," Owen told BT Sport.

"Once the ball is about to come in, he shifts his focus to get back into the box and that's brilliant.

"It’s always good to keep the blind side of the defender and then, last minute, he moves to the ball.

"If you’re just a goalscorer and you’re not interested in the ball, you’re between the lines.

"But I really like the way he almost hid behind the defender, then nipped inside.

"Scoring inside the six-yard box isn’t easy.

Unai Emery praises Gabriel Martinelli

"The second, it’s a lovely touch. You’re never, ever going to score with your left foot there, he totally opens it up with his right foot.

"It’s not an easy finish but when you decide to place it, it’s an easy finish.

"You’ve got about a two-metre gap there on the far side. For someone like him it’s an easy finish."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.