Arsenal legend Gilberto Silva believes Gabriel Martinelli is still underrated in Brazil.
As a member of the 2003/04 Invincibles season and a close friend of Gunners sporting director Edu, Gilberto, 47, keeps a keen eye on all things Arsenal. He also knows a thing or two about the politics involved in Brazilian football, having received 89 caps for Brazil and won the 2002 World Cup as a 25-year-old.
Hailing from Minas Gerais in south-eastern Brazil, he was one of the pioneers who made the long trip to England when it was still an unpopular among his fellow countrymen. Countless others have since followed, including current Gunners first-team stars Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli.
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Martinelli, 22, is into his fifth season now with Arsenal. Three of those have been with Mikel Arteta in charge, under whom the zippy teenager with an eye for goal has become a devastating and unpredictable wide forward.
He gives virtually every right-back in the Premier League the runaround on a weekly basis. It’s an even tougher task for Champions League defenders, who seem arguably more perplexed at how to defend someone who can conjure up skills out of thin air within milliseconds, but can also find the net from close or long range.
Martinelli was dubbed ‘a talent of the century’ by Jurgen Klopp as early as 2019, when his Liverpool side was the best team on the planet. No small praise.
Then why is it that Martinelli has often been Brazil’s third or fourth choice left-winger behind the likes of Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, Raphinha and even Antony? He only made his first start for Brazil in the throwaway third World Cup group stage fixture against Cameroon last year.
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Some have pointed to his lack of support in Brazil, both among figures in football and fans, as the reason behind his frequent omissions from the Selecao starting line-up. Gilberto agrees, telling Daily Star Sport in an exclusive interview that fast-tracking to the Premier League’s lofty heights from fourth tier side Ituano, without establishing himself first at one of Brazil’s big clubs, may have affected his reputation among Brazilians.
Speaking as CALM's latest ambassador in the stand against suicide, Gilberto said: “Yes, I believe he is underrated. I think there are always high expectations [for Brazilian footballers]. But one of the reasons he’s underrated is that he didn’t play so much in Brazil before he joined Arsenal.
"He came here so young and did well. But he only played in a small club in Brazil, with less tradition compared to the other big clubs like Corinthians, Atletico Mineiro, Sao Paulo or Palmeiras, where Gabriel Jesus came from.”
Jesus, four years Martinelli’s senior, was an acclaimed star by the time he left Palmeiras for Manchester City. He scored 21 goals in 67 appearances while winning individual awards like Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A ‘Best Newcomer’ and ‘Best Player’, throwing him into the limelight.
With that, he was called up to the Selecao as early as 2016. In contrast, Martinelli has had few people battling his corner or demanding his inclusion in the set-up.
It’s only since Tite’s resignation after the 2022 World Cup that Martinelli has staked a regular claim on the pitch. His performances at club level last season, scoring 15 goals in the league and almost winning the title, finally made his quality impossible to ignore.
His name still doesn’t garner the same respect that Rodrygo’s or Vincius’ do. That will likely come as Arsenal progress deeper into the Champions League and more people are introduced to his electrifying talent.
He is already starting to turn heads in a Brazil shirt since being included by Fernando Diniz in the recent international breaks. The Gunners star started both of October’s World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina, dazzling with tricks and flicks and coming away with his first international goal.
The first of many, Brazilians will hope, as they are in far greater need of the Sao Paulo man than they are aware of. Martinelli's rapid rise means it's likely he will play a crucial role at next summer’s Copa America, and an even bigger one once the next World Cup comes around.
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) stands united against suicide with everyone in the UK. The campaign is led through vital, life-saving support, impactful conversations, and collective action. If you're struggling, talk to CALM on 0800 58 58 58 (UK) or through our webchat. Our trained support workers are available from 5 PM to midnight every day to provide practical support and advice, whatever you're going through. To find out more about CALM, our services or for support or advice, visit thecalmzone.net
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