In a recent interview with Arsenal‘s official website, Gabriel Martinelli issued a positive update on his recovery from injury when he said, “I’m feeling very well, I’m regaining confidence and I can feel my knee is better.
“After an injury like this you are kind of scared to force the knee again but the past couple of weeks it has been fine and soon I can start training with the ball.
“I think we have an excellent squad and along with Mikel’s forward-thinking and winning mentality, we can carry on doing well.
“We are playing well and training well, everyone wants to win and we are all giving everything. I believe this season is very promising. We won trophies last season and I believe we can win this season again and also qualify for the Champions League.”
Martinelli’s Eye-Catching Debut Season At The English Capital
The Brazilian striker is currently sidelined with a knee injury and is eyeing a return before the end of this calendar year. His latest update will be a positive bit of news for anyone associated with the North London club ahead of this weekend’s blockbuster Premier League showdown versus Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
Since arriving from Ituano last summer, Martinelli has gone on to make 26 senior appearances for the Gunners, registering ten goals and four assists across all fronts. The South American marksman managed to impress with his performances over the past 12 months as he averaged 1.6 tackles, 1.2 shots, 0.5 key passes and 0.8 dribbles per game in the Premier League and the EFL Cup last season. However, the 19-year-old needs to take care of the ball a bit better when distributing it in the final third after completing only 69.8% of his attempted passes in the English top tier (stats via whoscored).
What Does The Brazilian Whizkid Offer On The Field?
Martinelli is one of the quickest players in Mikel Arteta’s squad and can be a hard man to catch when he is running at full speed towards the opponent’s penalty box. He has also got a high work-rate and is slowly but surely transforming himself into a lethal goal-scorer in the offensive third of the pitch.
The Brazilian youngster is not shy of getting stuck in with a few tackles which will make him a real asset for the Gunners as he will flourish playing in Arteta’s counter-pressing style of football at the Emirates Stadium this season.
Martinelli’s Positive Injury Update: Welcome Boost For Mikel Arteta?
Martinelli’s optimistic update will be a much-needed welcome boost for Arsenal as they look to continue their good run in the Premier League after this international break. However, the talented striker is still a few weeks off before he is ready to play any competitive football.
Therefore, Arteta will have no choice but to be patient with Martinelli’s recovery process. But once he is back, we can expect him to challenge for a first-team place in North London.
