Arsenal attacker Gabi Martinelli: We’re going to Sporting Lisbon to win
As Arsenal prepare to face Sporting Clube De Portugal in the Europa League round of 16 on Thursday night, Layth Yousif spoke to Gabi Martinelli on behalf of the Morning Star newspaper
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Arsenal’s young Brazilian forward Gabi Martinelli is enjoying life these days, thanks in no small part to his excellent relationship with the club’s loyal supporters.
After Mikel Arteta’s Premier League leaders clinched a dramatic late win over Bournemouth on Saturday to keep a five-point gap between them and second-placed Manchester City, confidence is high as the squad head into their Europa League -Duel against Sporting Lisbon travels to Portugal.
The bond between fans and team was evident in the emotional scenes after the final whistle against the Cherries, as players and fans celebrated.
Martinelli emphasized that the feeling is mutual.
Speaking to the Morning Star during Wednesday night’s pre-match press conference in the bowels of the green-and-white-clad Estadio Jose Alvalade in a gunmetal-grey Lisbon, when Martinelli was asked if he could feel the love of the Gooners anywhere, he replied, he surely could. “A lot. I love them and I think they love me too,” adding, “I always try to make them happy.”
The former Corinthians Academy starlet has more to offer than victory laurels.
The young star proved his steel when he left his homeland aged 17 in the summer of 2019 to join the north London giants.
Martinelli was playing in the fourth tier of Brazilian regional football before he was snapped up by a combination of the Gunners’ excellent scouting network, which also included former talent scout and former Arsenal youngster Francis Cagigao, who worked with Edu to capture the young star to grab.
That summer four years ago, the former Ituano forward might have been in contention for a regular spot in the Under-23 academy next season – but after his first couple of training sessions it was clear then-boss Unai Emery would be on his side in Summer USA that the talented teenager was destined to fight for a spot in the first-team squad.
Almost four years later, Martinelli, now a mature 21-year-old, has scored an impressive 11 goals in just 24 Premier League games this season to take it 29th in 119 games in all competitions, mostly as a dynamic left winger .
Such is his refreshing love for the club that Martinelli even insisted he would play anywhere as long as he was in the starting XI.
At a press conference ahead of the Lisbon game on Wednesday night, Martinelli added: “When I’m number nine or on the wing, I always try to do my best and help the team by scoring a goal or getting an assist.
“It’s up to Mikel – wherever he decides to play me, I will play. If the team needs me, I would play as a goalkeeper.
“We play for Arsenal and everyone has that responsibility.”
But after going six games without a goal in the new year on his return from the World Cup with Brazil, concerns were raised about his effectiveness before Arteta’s title contender ran hard.
Arteta, always the pragmatist, opted to bench Martinelli on the back of Arsenal’s late-winter wobble as the Gunners went four games without a much-needed win. The run included two defeats to Manchester City that saw them exit the FA Cup, raising serious questions about the veracity of their title challenge.
As befitted the tenacious young Brazilian star, who had shown maturity beyond his years when he relocated to London from near Sao Paolo at the tender age of just 17, Martinelli refused to be downhearted about his coveted place in the first team.
The intensity with which he trained during his exit from the starting XI was so intense, insiders in London say Colney, that Martinelli gave Arteta no choice but to force his hand and pick him again.
Looking back on his time away from the team, he said: “I just kept working hard, I always try to do my best on and off the pitch and I did.”
The inevitable return came after he clinched a late fourth-place substitute in the crucial 4-2 win at Aston Villa that kick-started Arsenal’s season when they seemed on the brink of collapse.
The explosive Martinelli and Arsenal have not looked back since, with the attacker scoring four points from three before playing a key part in Arsenal’s incredible 3-2 win over Bournemouth at the weekend as they netted four straight wins in the journey Portuguese capital.
“When you play for Arsenal you have to go into every competition to win,” he added. “That’s our mentality. Tomorrow is Sporting and we’re going there to win.
No wonder Arsenal supporters love him.