Arsenal thrashed Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday night, and one particular player’s performance is going under the radar.
After a close first half which Mikel Arteta’s team narrowly got the better of, Gabriel Magalhaes nodded Arsenal in front shortly after the break.
Gabriel Martinelli then doubled the home side’s advantage, before Viktor Gyokeres’ scrappy brace sent the Emirates into raptures.
The result leaves the Gunners third in the Champions League table after three matches, behind Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan on goal difference.
Gabriel Martinelli was brilliant for Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid
Martinelli has been criticised for his performances for Arsenal in recent years.
However, the Brazilian has turned things around for himself in recent weeks, finding a role in the Gunners’ squad that suits him.
Arteta has seemingly decided that the winger will be used as an impact substitute in the Premier League, while he’ll start in the Champions League, where his pace can be better put to use.
Starting by scoring off the bench against Athletic Club, Martinelli has also netted against the likes of Manchester City and Olympiacos in the last month.
He added a fourth goal to his growing tally against Atletico, slotting beyond Jan Oblak after great work from Myles Lewis-Skelly.
This was a vintage Martinelli goal, and capped off an excellent all-round display from him.
Gyokeres is being praised for his work rate, while Arteta lauded Lewis-Skelly after the game. Meanwhile, Martinelli’s showing appears to have been somewhat overlooked in the post-match discourse.
Managing 42 touches, the 24-year-old was at the heart of several Arsenal attacks. While not everything came off, and he lost the ball several times, Martinelli was lively and effervescent, as well as working exceptionally hard out of possession.
What Mikel Arteta said about Gabriel Martinelli’s performance vs Atletico Madrid
Martinelli has too often played within himself for Arsenal.
However, the Brazil international was willing to try difficult actions against Atletico, attempting five dribbles and creating two chances.
He could still refine his game somewhat, but this was another positive step in the right direction for the electric wide man
Speaking on Martinelli and Lewis-Skelly in his post-match press conference, Arteta described the two players who made their way into the starting line-up as ‘superb’.
“Very good. I think Myles and Gabs were superb,” he said.
“The impact, the team, the results, they were great from the beginning. And the boys, they come again, and we use them in different ways again. I think we need to try to keep them all involved, and believe that they have a chance to play.
“And if they play at that level, it’s a joy because it’s going to elevate our daily training sessions. That will mean the standard will be higher and we will compete better, for sure.”
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