Arsenal hero Paul Merson has praised Gabriel Martinelli after causing ‘havoc’ at home to Burnley in the Gunners’ final Premier League fixture before the international break.
The 22-year-old stunned Merson during the first half at Emirates Stadium this Saturday after helping to create Leandro Trossard’s opener. Martinelli teased Burnley on Arsenal’s left wing before Oleksandr Zinchenko and Bukayo Saka combined to assist the Belgian at the far post.
Martinelli ran Burnley ragged throughout the opening 45 minutes in north London. Manager Mikel Arteta started the Brazilian for the ninth time in the Premier League this season and in a fourth straight match. He had to sit out two fixtures in September with a hamstring injury.
Martinelli caused ‘havoc’ as Arsenal hosted Burnley
Burnley struggled to find an answer for Martinelli’s magic before the break during their visit to Arsenal. He returned to the dressing room having completed a higher volume of dribbles than any other player. WhoScored put Martinelli as beating his man twice from six attempts.
No other player for either team attempted more than two dribbles, while only Trossard and Saka also completed one. Martinelli further recorded the third-best pass success rate (94%) during the first half. Only Declan Rice (100%) and William Saliba (95%) eclipsed his efforts.
Merson follows Gunners great Keown in praising Martinelli
Merson was full of praise for what Martinelli showed in the first half while the Arsenal hero described Trossard’s goal against Burnley. The Magic Man also admired how brave Trossard was to meet Saka’s assist at the far post, even if it meant he ended the half with an injury.
“It’s a goal by Trossard,” Merson said on Sky Sports News (11/11, 15:46). “Ball gets whipped in and Saka gets up, he heads it. It’s a floating header to the far post and Trossard gambles. He runs in and he’s brave.
“Martinelli down the [wing] causing havoc, plays it back to Zinchenko. Zinchenko [crosses it], header Saka. Yeah, really brave by Trossard at the far post and then smashes his ribs into the post. But very, very brave.”
Martinelli has been in fine form of late and impressed fellow Arsenal great Martin Keown in midweek against Sevilla. The iconic Gunners defender admired how the seven-cap gem was able to terrorise the La Liga side. The tie also returned his third assist in 13 games this term.
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