Gabriel Martinelli has been incredible for Arsenal in the Champions League this season.
The Brazil international had a difficult time in each of the last two campaigns. He was not consistently at his best at all.
That led to calls from Arsenal fans to sell him in the summer, but Mikel Arteta’s decision to keep Martinelli has proved to be a masterstroke.
The former Ituano man is undoubtedly Arsenal’s best player in the competition, and that was evident in the game against Club Brugge. But one former Gunner has been even more productive than him – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Who was Arsenal’s best player against Club Brugge?
Let us know who you picked in the comments! 👀
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is outshining Gabriel Martinelli in the Champions League
Aubameyang was a hero at Arsenal during his prime.
The Gabon international was outstanding for the Gunners, was often their top scorer and was one of the biggest reasons Arteta won the FA Cup and Community Shield in his first year.
However, Aubameyang fell out with the Arsenal manager in 2021, and in February of the following year, he was allowed to leave for free after terminating his contract.
The striker has since had spells at Barcelona, Chelsea, Marseille and Al Qadsiah, and he’s now back at Marseille, where he is flying at the age of 36.
Aubameyang has directly contributed to 18 goals in all competitions already for the French side this season, seven of which have come in the Champions League.
Apart from Kylian Mbappe, the former Gunners captain is the only player in the entire competition to have directly contributed to more goals than Gabriel Martinelli, who has scored and assisted six.
However, the difference is that Aubameyang has played 530 minutes in the Champions League this season, while Martinelli has only managed 294 minutes.
READ MORE: Arsenal fans make the same point about Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after Champions League showing
If you could re-sign one former Arsenal player right now, would it be Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang? If not, who?
Auba has scored eight and assisted 10 in 19 games this season👀
Gabriel Martinelli could match Thierry Henry’s European record at Arsenal
Against Club Brugge, Martinelli became the first player in Arsenal’s history to score in five consecutive Champions League games.
That is a phenomenal record, but there could be more.
If Martinelli finds the net against Inter Milan, he will equal Thierry Henry’s record for the most consecutive goals scored by an Arsenal player in a European competition.
The legendary Frenchman scored in six consecutive games in the UEFA Cup in 2000, but he failed to get the Gunners over the line in the final against Galatasaray.
It remains to be seen if Martinelli can equal his record and then lead Arsenal to Champions League glory at the end of this campaign.
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