Arsenal star Gabriel Martinelli got a rare start for Brazil in their friendly against France.
Carlo Ancelotti is hoping to lead the Selecao to World Cup glory for the first time in over two decades, but he hasn’t got all the home fans on board just yet.
Some of the 66-year-old’s decisions have rubbed Brazilian supporters the wrong way. One of them involves his selection of Martinelli.
Is Gabriel Martinelli the best Brazilian in the Premier League right now? If not, who is?
Brazil fans slam Carlo Ancelotti for starting Gabriel Martinelli vs France
Gabriel Martinelli started in an unusual left-attacking-midfield role in Ancelotti’s 4-2-2-2 system when Brazil faced France on Thursday night.
The Arsenal attacker wasn’t awful by any means. He threatened a few times and even came close to scoring with his left foot from outside the box.
However, Martinelli wasn’t at his absolute best, and the fact that Ancelotti picked him ahead of players like Joao Pedro, Igor Thiago and Neymar irked Brazil fans.
One supporter tweeted: “Ancelotti starts Martinelli, who has scored one goal all season, and leaves Igor Thiago sitting down, who is the second-highest scorer in the Premier League!”
Another wrote: “Ancelotti is lost. He’s leading with Martinelli, who doesn’t do anything. Neymar in the national team scores goals or assists every match and doesn’t crumble, but they leave him out. Vini in the national team isn’t any better than Briasco, and they give him the number 10 shirt.”
“Martinelli always plays for the national team, but he has never delivered anything to deserve a starting spot. He doesn’t even have two goals for the national team (in competitive games),” wrote another.
Another Brazil fan posted: “I don’t see anything special in Martinelli.”
“Carlo Ancelotti needs to have a really long look at himself. Taking the likes of Martinelli and Luis Henrique to the World Cup while Neymar is sat at home is going to be a big stain on his illustrious CV,” tweeted another.
Discuss: What is the ideal sale price for Gabriel Martinelli?
Gabriel Martinelli’s next few months could be terrible at Arsenal and Brazil
Martinelli has done well in the Champions League for Arsenal this season, but his performances in the Premier League are nowhere near the level required.
Now, the former Ituano man is struggling on the international stage as well, which is not great at all ahead of the World Cup this summer.
Unless something dramatically changes with Martinelli’s form in the next two months, we have a feeling he could suffer heartbreak – at club and international level.
First, Brazil could leave him out of their World Cup squad, and then, Arsenal could decide to sell Martinelli in the summer transfer window.
If there ever is a time for Martinelli to step up, it’s now.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
