Alan Shearer praised Arsenal star for his ‘really clever’ finish during Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on Saturday, as he told Premier League Productions (25/02/23 at 5:05 pm).
The Premier League’s all-time top scorer was backed by his pundit in crime, Ian Wright, who added that Martinelli is ‘the future’ of Mikel Arteta’s side.
The 21-year-old, who recently penned his long-term future at Arsenal, returned from the World Cup in Qatar in patchy form.
That resulted in him being dropped last week during the thrilling last-gasp win at Aston Villa, but he came off the bench to put the cherry on the cake and has now backed it up with another goal for the Premier League leaders.
That’s nine Premier League goals in 23 matches for the £6 million star (Goal) – already better than the numbers he managed during the past two seasons.
It’s no surprise that Wright is a huge fan of the Brazil international, with Shearer being very impressed by how he finished off his effort against Leicester.
“We know what he is capable of and another one that has signed a new deal,” said Wright. “We are happy to have him here because he is the future for us.
“Him, Saka and Saliba. They are the future for us. We want them tied up. You want them in situations and in games and league campaigns like this so they can get more experience because we are going to need them in the future.
“I think when you listen to him saying that the manager said ‘they have to win’, then that was the main thing – but the goal is the main thing, then seeing it off and shutting it down.
“Once we win it, I think it’s Gabriel who comes in and wins it, then from there, we see Leicester’s defence. They are out of shape. Once he gets in there, then you really fancy them in that situation. It was good to see because it was a good time to score early in the second half, then you can relax a little.”
Shearer added: “I thought it was a fabulous finish. Really well worked. That’s the one thing they didn’t do in the first half, they didn’t get in behind as many times as they perhaps could have and should have. But they certainly did in the first minute of the second half. All on the front foot. It’s a really clever finish, that’s where he is aiming. Clever goal and finish.”
MARTINELLI FINDING HIS MAGIC AGAIN
Last week, Arteta made the right call to drop Martinelli, but he has responded like a player ready to go right to the very top
It also sends out a message to others that if you respond in such a fashion, then a starting place is there for you.
Eddie Nketiah should take note because he was dropped for the win at Leicester after losing his own spark in recent weeks.
