Is Gabriel Martinelli ready to become one of the Premier League's best players?

Martinelli


By Oli Dickson Jefford

Gabriel Martinelli has become a firm fan favourite at the Emirates.

Despite previous doubts about whether he would ever become a key figure at Arsenal, last season the Brazilian was a standout performer.

There was a growing sense of optimism around the club at points last season and the 21-year-old was a key reason for that with a string of standout displays.

Martinelli can certainly still improve further though in an exciting Arsenal team that has started the season superbly there is certainly room for him to do just that.

However, is he quite ready to rival the likes of Harry Kane, Erling Haaland and Mo Salah and become one of the Premier League’s best players? 

Stiff squad competition


Arsenal’s strength last season was their forward line and that already looks like it will be the case once again this campaign.

Alongside Martinelli the likes of Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe thrived and improved drastically, while Martin Odegaard displayed some of the best form of his career.

The Brazilian’s transformation was a key part of an improved campaign, though it was not just his improvement that drove the club forward and may continue to do so.

And, perhaps crucially for his chances of progression, the arrival of Gabriel Jesus has really shaken up Arsenal’s attack.

A multiple trophy winner with Manchester City, Jesus brings an experience few others have in Mikel Arteta’s squad and has well and truly hit the ground running in the red side of North London.

Martinelli will still be a key part of the Gunners attack though with Jesus likely to be the talisman and the likes of Saka still going to feature heavily, he may not always get the chance to shine.

Gabriel Martinelli

How far ahead are the top guns?


While looking at how much Martinelli can grow and improve, in terms of assessing whether he can become one of the Premier League’s best players, it’s important to look at just how good the best in the league are.

The likes of Salah and Kane have starred in the league for multiple seasons now, and the early signs suggest both are once again set for highly fruitful campaigns.

Meanwhile Haaland’s brace in his Premier League debut for Man City against West Ham would suggest he will take the league by storm, and there is an array of talent elsewhere to consider.

The likes of Virgil van Dijk and Kevin de Bruyne are also among the best in the world at what they do, and arguably Martinelli is still a step away from all those mentioned above.

His talent is undeniable but his overall influence in matches isn’t quite at that level just yet and while he will almost certainly grow further as a forward and as a player overall, doing so this season may be a push.

Conclusion


Arguably, Martinelli is not ready yet to become one of the best players in the Premier League.

He will almost certainly improve further this season and the potential is there to become a memorable figure in the league, but he is still not quite at the level of the league’s very best.

And, with tough competition within his own side, he might not be producing as many standout moments as he may want over the next nine months.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

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