Gabriel Martinelli

Gabriel Martinelli, born on June 18, 2001, is a talented Brazilian footballer known for his versatility as a left winger or forward. He currently plays for Arsenal in the Premier League and represents the Brazil national team. Martinelli's professional career kicked off with Ituano before making a significant move to Arsenal in July 2019, when he was just 18 years old. His early performances showcased his potential and earned him a place in the spotlight at a top-tier club.
On the international stage, Martinelli represented Brazil at the 2020 Summer Olympics, where he played a key role in helping his team secure an Olympic Gold medal in men's football. This early success at the international level demonstrated his talent and potential as a rising star in Brazilian football. Two years later, Martinelli made his senior debut for the Brazil national team and was part of the squad that participated in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, further solidifying his presence on the global football stage. With his skillset and promising career trajectory, Martinelli is poised to make a significant impact for both Arsenal and Brazil in the years to come.


Gabriel Martinelli's journey at Arsenal began with his signing of a long-term contract on July 2, 2019, amidst interest from multiple clubs. The reported fee for his transfer was £6 million (R$46.9 million). Holding an Italian passport facilitated his move to Arsenal, bypassing some of the restrictions typically faced by English clubs when signing South American players. Despite initially being earmarked to primarily feature for the under-21s, Martinelli's impressive performances during pre-season convinced Arsenal to integrate him directly into the first team.
His Premier League debut came on August 11, 2019, as a substitute in a 1–0 win against Newcastle United. Martinelli's competitive debut saw him score a brace in a 5–0 victory over Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup, earning praise from head coach Unai Emery for his hunger and humility. He continued his goal-scoring form with another brace in a UEFA Europa League match against Standard Liège on October 4.


Martinelli's impact was further highlighted by his goal-scoring exploits in subsequent matches, including a notable performance against Liverpool in the League Cup, where he scored twice in a 5–5 draw and converted his penalty in the shootout. His stellar performances led to him being named Arsenal's Player of the Month for October.
Throughout the season, Martinelli continued to impress, becoming the first teenager since Nicolas Anelka to reach double figures in a season for Arsenal. His memorable goal against Chelsea, where he ran the length of the pitch to score, was voted as Arsenal's Goal of the Season by the club's fans.
In July 2020, Martinelli signed a new four-year contract with Arsenal, but shortly after, he suffered a knee injury in training that required surgery, ruling him out until the end of 2020. Despite the setback, Martinelli's promising start at Arsenal showcased his potential and established him as a key player for the club's future.


After returning from injury, Gabriel Martinelli made his comeback for Arsenal on December 19, playing 19 minutes as a substitute in a 2–1 defeat to Everton. However, he suffered a minor ankle injury during the warmup ahead of the FA Cup match against Newcastle United on January 9, 2021, and was replaced in the lineup.
Martinelli's return to European competition came on February 18, when he made a 13-minute appearance off the bench in a 1–1 draw against Benfica. He scored his first goal of the season in a 3–0 victory against Sheffield United on April 11. Under the guidance of manager Mikel Arteta, Martinelli transitioned to a left-wing role, allowing him to cut onto his favored right foot and utilize his pace and dribbling abilities to unsettle defenders.


During the 2021–22 season, Martinelli continued to make an impact. He scored his first goal of the season against Newcastle United on November 27, which was later ranked third in Arsenal's official Goal of the Season poll. He followed up with a brace against Leeds United on December 18, marking his first Premier League double, with his first goal also being Arsenal's 7,000th top-division goal.
However, Martinelli also faced a setback when he received his first career red card on February 10, 2022, against Wolves, after receiving two yellow cards in quick succession. The decision sparked controversy as both yellow cards were given for incidents that occurred within seconds of each other. Before the end of the 2021–22 season, Martinelli was assigned the number 11 shirt following the impending departure of Lucas Torreira to Galatasaray in the summer transfer window. His previous number 35 was subsequently taken up by Oleksandr Zinchenko upon his arrival at the club.


On August 5, 2022, Gabriel Martinelli made history by scoring for Arsenal in their 2–0 away victory against Crystal Palace, becoming the first Brazilian to score the season-opening goal of a Premier League campaign. Later that month, on August 31, he scored a crucial 77th-minute winner in a home match against Aston Villa, contributing to Arsenal's perfect start to the season with five wins from their first five matches.
On October 1, Martinelli provided an assist for Granit Xhaka in Arsenal's 3–1 victory over North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Just over a week later, on October 9, he opened the scoring within 58 seconds in Arsenal's home match against Liverpool, which ended in a thrilling 3–2 victory for the Gunners. Martinelli was awarded Man of the Match for his outstanding performance in that game.


During the Boxing Day fixture, Martinelli found the net in Arsenal's 3–1 win over West Ham, marking his continued impact on the team. On February 3, 2023, he committed his long-term future to the club by signing a new contract extending until 2027. Later that month, on February 25, Martinelli scored the only goal in Arsenal's away victory over Leicester City.
In the subsequent match against Everton on March 1, Martinelli showcased his prowess by netting a brace in Arsenal's 4–0 triumph, further solidifying their position at the top of the Premier League table. By the end of the season, Martinelli had amassed an impressive tally of 15 goals and 6 assists in all competitions, sharing the title of the club's top scorer with Martin Ødegaard and finishing third in Arsenal's Player of the Season vote. Notably, he also achieved the milestone of becoming the highest-scoring Brazilian player in a single Premier League season, matching Roberto Firmino's record set for Liverpool during the 2017–18 campaign.


Martinelli's impactful performances continued into the 2023–24 season. In Arsenal's first match of the Premier League campaign on August 12, he provided an assist for Eddie Nketiah's goal in a 2–1 home win against Nottingham Forest. On September 3, Martinelli assisted Martin odegaard equalizer against Manchester United, contributing to Arsenal's 3–1 victory. Additionally, on October 8, he scored the decisive goal in a 1–0 triumph over Manchester City, benefiting from a deflection off defender Nathan Aké. Furthermore, Martinelli made his Champions League debut on October 24, scoring the opening goal in Arsenal's 2–1 away victory against Sevilla. These performances underscored Martinelli's growing influence and impact on the team as a key attacking player for Arsenal.

References

1.  "Updated squad lists for 2019/20 Premier League". Premier League. 6 February 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
2. ^ "Gabriel Martinelli". Arsenal F.C. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
3. ^ "Gabriel Martinelli: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
4. ^ "FC 100 best men's soccer wingers, 2022-23". ESPN. 4 July 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
5. ^ Dabbs, Ryan (27 October 2022). "Ranked! The 10 best young players in the world". FourFourTwo. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
6. ^ "Ele fez mais de 200 gols na base do Corinthians, foi para o Ituano e agora é testado no United" [He scored more than 200 goals at Corinthians' youth setup, went to Ituano and now is trialled at United] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ESPN Brasil. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
7. ^ "Quem é Martinelli? Artilheiro da Copinha trocou o Corinthians pelo Ituano e é monitorado pelo Barça" [Who is Martinelli? Copinha goalscorer changed Corinthians for Ituano and is targeted by Barça] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 11 January 2019. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
8. ^ "Promessa do Galo, Gabriel Martinelli assina até 2022" [Prospect of Galo, Gabriel Martinelli signs until 2022] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Jornal Periscópio. 4 November 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
9. ^ "Gabriel Martinelli é o atleta mais jovem a estrear no Ituano" [Gabriel Martinelli is the youngest player to debut at Ituano] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Ituano FC. 20 March 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
10. ^ "Taboão da Serra 1 × 4 Ituano – Com início avassalador, Galo vence e assume liderança" [Taboão da Serra 1–4 Ituano – With a storming start, Galo win and take on leadership] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Futebol Interior. 8 September 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2019.