Gabriel Martinelli justifying Brazil legend Ronaldinho’s “crazy” comparison

The talented Arsenal forward has been among the goals in recent weeks, netting four times since late November in the Premier League to hand Mikel Arteta’s men some crucial victories

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Gabriel Martinelli is starting to justify the huge praise heaped on him by his fellow countryman Ronaldinho, who claimed the Arsenal star reminded him of fellow Brazilian Ronaldo.

During his first season in north London after being signed by Unai Emery in the summer of 2019, Martinelli became the first teenager since Nicolas Anelka to hit double figures in terms of goals scored in a single season for Arsenal.

A lengthy knee injury kept him side-lined for the majority of the 2020/21 season, though even when he was deemed fit he was out of the team, sparking speculation Mikel Arteta deemed him surplus to requirements and talk of an Emirates exit lingered.

Despite his struggles last year, Ronaldinho revealed that his hopes were high for Martinelli, telling Mirror Football back in 2020 he was impressed by the Arsenal forward’s efforts.

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“We as Brazilians are very excited about him and his future. It is one thing to have the talent, but another at the age of 18 to have the confidence,” the 2005 Ballon d’Or winner explained.

The former Barcelona man went on to claim that Martinelli actually boasts similar traits to another Brazilian icon in Ronaldo, explaining: “He reminds me of Ronaldo. In his first season in Europe, he scored 30 goals and people were thinking, ‘who is this 18-year-old Brazilian kid?’

“He wanted the ball, he would run at players, there was no fear no matter what players or team he was playing against – and I see that similar attitude in Martinelli. He just wants to be on the ball and score goals.”

Martinelli was understandably star-struck upon hearing Ronaldinho’s “crazy” assessment, telling Arsenal’s YouTube channel : “Wow, when I heard that I couldn’t believe it.

“It’s crazy because I was in Brazil until recently, playing in the Copa Sao Paulo, which is a prestigious youth-level competition, but it’s nothing like the Premier League.

“To get here and play in the Premier League for Arsenal, one of the best clubs in the world, and for one of the best Brazilian players of all time to speak so highly of me and compare me with one of the best forwards in football history is something that seems hard to believe.”

This term has seen Martinelli slowly reintegrated back into the first-team fold, before the Brazilian has eventually repaid the manager’s faith with four Premier League strikes so far.

Ronaldinho’s assessment of Martinelli is strikingly accurate when watching the 20-year-old forward so far this term, constantly demanding the ball, stretching opposition back-lines as he goes on the prowl for goals.

One of Martinelli’s main assets is his ability to score such contrasting types of goal, his first of the season a stunning deft volley over the onrushing Martin Dubravka from a tight angle against Newcastle.

Compare that to his first against Leeds on Saturday, a well-hit thunderous effort that Illan Meslier got a strong hand to and still could not keep out and it becomes clear how potent Martinelli could be for the Gunners in front of goal.

The Brazilian has scored three in his last two outings, the brace against Leeds coming after a calmly-dispatched finish against West Ham that drew Thierry Henry comparisons.