Last point I’d say… atm, if we are struggling to get any threat going, I personally feel Saka and Gabby are the two most likely players to unlock a defense. It is really hard to have those beautiful little diagonal or through balls when a defense is just packing it in with two banks of 4 plus runners. It felt a little bit too much for a while on Saturday like some of those old days where we passed around perimeter from wing to wing and back and it felt a bit like they had us controlled quite easily.
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Agreed, he’s so unpredictable. Wasn’t Martinelli our top scorer last season too?
I’ll never forget that 70-yard run & goal vs. Chelsea. Made Kante fall on his arse!
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To an extent but after a while he doesn’t have the technical skills to do more once he is shut down.
He became predictable in final third of the season especially with fatigue setting in. I hope he improves on that.
True! The other area I’d like him to improve upon is taking long range strikes with power & accuracy. Think he has the ingredients to match Saka in this area soon.
Tbf, Martinelli suffered a drop in form from November-February(at least for Arsenal because he sensational in the World Cup for Brazil).
Even in that period though he was still contributing with goals and assists, he just wasn’t taking on players like he used to.
However, after he got benched for that Villa game things changed. For me he was one of the few players players in the run-in that didn’t drop off like the rest.
If I learned anything about him is not to count him out. He is probably the scariest of our talents because his growth is just ridiculous. At least with guys like Odegaard and Saka you kind of expect it. He wasn’t even a guaranteed starter this time last year and some of us were crying for a more seasoned forward to play with Jesus and Saka.
He ended up forcing his way into Brazil’s squad for the World Cup and was the talent that shined the brightest after Vinicius imo.
Most of my friends support Man Utd and a lot of them see parallels between Martinelli-Saka and Ronaldo-Rooney. To think we’ve got one of them from our academies and the other for peanuts(in today’s context) is some luck.
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Not trying to be pedantic, but he was a non entity at the world cup. He started one dead rubber game that Brazil lost 1-0 and the other two appearances were off the bench for a combined total of 20 mins.
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It’s the World Cup, it’s Brazil. There’s no dead rubber games.
He was the best player on the pitch against Cameroon. Same game that Jesus, Rodrygo, Antony, Raphinha and Raphinha were involved. He was the guy that stood out.
Sensational…stop it lol.
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Martinelli had a sensational World Cup? Lolwut. Did he even play a significant amount?
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Martinelli wasn’t sensational in the World Cup! He looked good in his only start though.
I’m Martinelli’ biggest supporter (probably) on here but he’s not even a definite to make the next Brazil squad
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Their most exciting forward in the tourney after Vinicius. Richarlison does have a claim to be the more impactful one.
But he barely played. It’s like saying Callum Wilson had a spectacular World Cup.
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Not really the same. Wilson didn’t shine. Saka and Rashford did. Even Foden did.
You get only a handful of opportunities and Martinelli took them by the scruff of the neck.
Go back in this thread to see the reaction to Martinelli’s performance’s in the World Cup.
In his brief time Martinelli managed to shine whereas starters like Raphinha or Paqueta, or other more senior players like Jesus, Rodrygo or Antony didn’t.
This guy went in as the “extra” inclusion in the end, Brazilian media were shitting on the decision to include him and not other Brazilian talent not. He ended up performing better than other established members of the Brazil squad.
Well the Brazilian papers thought he had a good World Cup and was wondering why he wasn’t used enough
Martinelli had a sensational World Cup? 
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If Martinelli played for RM or Barca, he’d have started every game for Brasil 
Brasil’s team selection is sometimes based on name/club rather than ability. Just like England’s from time to time.
But yeah… I’d say he didn’t have a bad world cup.
For what he was handed, yes. He went in as the extra guy and ended up being one of the forwards that actually shined.
Nobody expected him to show up the likes of Raphinha, Paqueta, Rodrygo, Antony and even our very own Jesus.
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I seriously question your takes sometimes haha
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Yes. Good World Cup. Sensational? Not a chance.
Think you might wana walk back the word sensational lol
Good in the appearances he got? Sure. I love Martinelli but sensational would be Messi and Mbappe.
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