Gabriel Martinelli scored for Arsenal as they beat Wigan Athletic 4-0 in the FA Cup.
The Brazil international got the nod over Leandro Trossard on the left wing for the Gunners, and his pace was always going to be a threat for the League One side.
In the 19th minute of the game, Martinelli made a fantastic run behind the last defender, and Eberechi Eze found him with a beautiful through ball. The former Ituano man finished brilliantly to double his side’s lead.
By doing so, Martinelli did something that hasn’t happened before at Arsenal in this century.
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Gabriel Martinelli matches Ian Wright’s Arsenal record from 1994/95
Ian Wright is one of Arsenal’s greatest ever strikers.
The legendary Englishman is still the club’s second-highest goalscorer – only Thierry Henry, who became an Arsenal fan because of Wright, has scored more goals in history.
One of Wright’s best seasons as a Gunner came in 1994/95. He scored 30 goals in all competitions that campaign and was unstoppable at times.
Out of those 30 strikes, 12 came in the cup competitions – nine in the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup and three in the League Cup.
Since then, no player in Arsenal’s history had managed to get into double figures in goals in competitions outside the Premier League – until Gabriel Martinelli against Wigan.
The Brazil international has now scored 10 goals in the cups – six in the Champions League and four in the FA Cup so far.
He is the first player in over 30 years, since Wright, to do so, which is a fantastic achievement. It remains to be seen if he can score three more and break the Arsenal legend’s record.
Is Gabriel Martinelli the best Brazilian in the Premier League right now? If not, who is?
Gabriel Martinelli could break his personal best record at Arsenal
Martinelli is quietly having a great season.
The 24-year-old has had his struggles in the Premier League, having scored just once in 20 games. However, across all competitions, he has now found the net 11 times.
Martinelli’s best season at Arsenal came in 2022/23, when he scored 15 goals. He is on track to break that record in the coming months.
However, we’re sure the Brazilian would want to improve his tally in the league, especially as all 15 goals from three seasons ago came in the Premier League.
That shows Martinelli is more than capable, and Arsenal need him to start firing in the business end of the campaign.
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