Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has once again ruled out the possibility of loaning out Brazilian forward Gabriel Martinelli. The youngster has not received much gametime this season and there were reports of him being very keen to go out on loan in January just to receive more regular game time.
The Brazilian has started only four matches and half of them have been in the League Cup. However, he has failed to find the target or even come up with an assist. Martinelli, since his injury has not been the same player he was earlier. The youngster has dropped down the pecking order in a team that has players like Emile Smith Rower, Alexandre Lacazette, Nicolas Pepe, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. However, Arteta is very hopeful about the 20-year-old as he feels that things will gradually get better for him with time.
But when asked whether he will go out on loan this January, Arteta once again refused and said that he needs the youngster in North London.
“No I’m very happy with him. We’re not thinking of anything like that,” Arteta said.
Gabriel Martinelli was recently lauded by Brazilian legend Ronaldinho. The former Barcelona man just like the fans expects big things from the 20-year-old. Ronaldinho was so impressed with the youngster that he even compared Martinelli with Ronaldo Nazario. Ronaldo was probably the best striker of that generation so keeping Martinelli in the same bracket must be a huge thing for the Arsenal youngster.
“We as Brazilians are very excited about him and his future. It is one thing to have the talent, but another at the age of 18 to have the confidence. He reminds me of Ronaldo. His first season in Europe, he scored 30 goals and people were thinking: ‘who is this 18-year-old Brazilian kid?” Ronaldinho was quoted as saying to The Mirror.
Ronaldinho was very happy with the youngster’s urge for wanting the ball and also appreciated his fearless attitude even in high voltage matches.
“He wanted the ball, he would run at players, there was no fear no matter what players or team he was playing against—and I see that similar attitude in Martinelli. He just wants to be on the ball and score goals. Ronaldo went on to be the best player in the world, and that can also be the aim of Martinelli,” Ronaldinho concluded.
