Martinelli Gabriel was a man on the go. It should come as no surprise that Martinelli is among the Premier League’s fastest players, giving defenders who have to defend against him nightmares because of his lightning-quick footwork. He always seems to be rushing, speeding up the pitch at a rate that would make Road Runner envious. He avoids a tackle and throws the ball into the far corner with the casual ease of Don Draper calling the bartender over for another Old Fashioned, giving the impression that he has all the time in the world.
But Martinelli and Arsenal were out of time on a December evening in 2019. At West Ham, the team was behind 1-0. They had lost nine games in a row. Nine. For a worse run of form, you had to go back to 1977. Unai Emery, their manager, had lost his job as a result; the Spaniard was fired after seven games. Freddie Ljungberg, the club’s legendary interim manager, had thus far failed to track down the elusive W. A visit to your regional competitors is the last thing you need when you’re in a rut that could become historically significant.
It’s unfortunate that an 18-year-old is making his complete Premier League debut in these circumstances. Martinelli wasn’t like most 18-year-olds, though. He was raised in Guarulhos, So Paulo, and began his futsal career with Corinthians before joining Ituano FC in 2015. At age 16, he made his debut for the team as its youngest player in more than a century. A transfer to Arsenal soon after.
He was the only player since Ian Wright to score on each of his first four starts for Arsenal in the League Cup and Europa League. He was dubbed the “talent of the century” by the opposing manager, Jurgen Klopp, after scoring twice against Liverpool in a League Cup match. The youngster now had the chance to demonstrate this on a large platform.
Martinelli made his appearance known one hour into the match against West Ham. Arsenal advanced the ball. Martinelli snuck to the edge of the penalty area as Sead Kolainac advanced down the left wing. Low and rolling toward the penalty area was the cross. On his right foot, he first encountered it. As if he had been doing this for years, he passed it into the furthest corner. As though he had an endless amount of time.
He participated in the entire game as Arsenal rallied to win 3-1. Martinelli performed superbly, according to Ljungberg, a man with extensive knowledge of gifted wings. “He keeps going, like a Duracell battery.”
He has continued to do so. Martinelli’s spectacular solo goal against Chelsea earned him the club’s Goal of the Season award in 2020. He and Brazil won the Olympic Gold in 2021, and he competed for Brazil in the 2022 World Cup. And he played a key role in last season’s title run by Arsenal, a dynamic young team that came close to unseating incumbent champion Manchester City before faltering late.
Martinelli is committed to completing the task this time. He says quietly, “We need to perform better than last season.” “We are aware that we performed remarkably well last season, finishing second. After all, we are Arsenal, and we know where we belong and the responsibility we have. That is why we want to win everything and be league champions. We must prevail, as I previously stated.
The most humble of superstars said some stern words. A wise soul in a 22-year-old body, the man who brings square miles into his North London home is quiet, polite, and self-effacing. He cheerfully dons a variety of clothing while shyly confessing that fashion isn’t really his thing. Football, friends, and family are his passions. A skilled model, as evidenced by the photo shoot. It’s understandable why his admirers adore him.
Actor Daniel Sharman, one of those spectators, sat in the away section to see West Ham play. “I can still hear myself thinking, ‘fucking hell, that kid’s speedy! “He’s quick!” Sharman, an ardent Arsenal supporter exiled in Los Angeles (apparently there’s a pub that screens the matches at four in the morning), leaped at the chance to speak with one of the players that brought the pleasure back into supporting Arsenal.
According to Sharman, “a sense of doom and suffering has been replaced by an uncomfortable, foreign feeling – hope and excitement” over the past several years.
“There is a stronger bond between the community and the supporters. A nucleus of young, skilled players who seem really committed to and integrated into the club’s culture are at the center of this new age. Martinelli is a prime example. He arrived so quietly and at such a young age that he feels just as genuine an Arsenal supporter as the Hale End boys. He is a Brazilian-born Londoner who has been adopted. And we Liverpool fans adore him for it.
Due to the way life works, the interview was conducted a few days after Arsenal suffered their first loss of the year by conceding a late equalizer to Fulham at home. Martinelli doesn’t seem overly dejected. He is skilled at moving past setbacks and starting over. He tells Sharman later, “You’re not going to play well every day. You won’t score a goal or provide an assist every day. The season is extensive.
Despite the lengthy season, Arsenal fans can anticipate another thrilling game. Their talented young Brazilian forward, who plays with ice in his veins and jet fuel in his boots, will be at the center of their ambitions.