Martinelli joined Arsenal in July of 2019. The Gunners are understood to have paid just over £6m for the Brazilian.
And Martinelli proved one of Arsenal’s bright sparks during his debut 2019/20 season.
The 21-year-old scored 10 and assisted four across 26 outings for the club, including a stunning individual effort vs Chelsea in the Premier League.
However, the Brazilian’s campaign was brought to a premature end when he suffered a knee injury, which also saw him miss the start of 2020/21.
Martinelli eventually returned to action midway through last season but didn’t really rediscover the form he found during the early days of his Arsenal career.
2022/23, though, has seen Martinelli develop into a crucial asset for Arsenal. His latest showing saw him score and assist as the Gunners put three past Liverpool to go back top of the Premier League.
“He’s a great player,” Arteta said. “I think today he had an outstanding performance against a top defender and a top team and he made a difference in the game as well as the other players. That’s the next level, to step up in these games and make things happen to win it.”
When asked if tying him down to a new contract is now top of his to do list, Arteta responded:
“We don’t get directed by an individual performance,” he said. “Gabby doesn’t have to show me whether he plays well or not well today what he deserves. What is clear is his hunger, his determination and his love for this game. You don’t know where he’s going to reach because he’s always asking and willing for more.”
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