Arsenal opinion: Scout report on ex-Man United trialist Gabriel Martinelli

According to the Daily Mail, Arsenal have enquired about the possibility of signing 17-year-old Gabriel Martinelli who currently plays for Brazilian side Ituano.

The Brazilian has previously had trials at the likes of Manchester United and Barcelona, and has been watched by Crystal Palace and Watford in recent months.

Arsenal are currently overloaded in the number 9 department with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette doing exceedingly well. However, Martinelli would be a long-term investment for the Gunners and could lead the line for the best part of the next decade.

Martinelli has been very impressive for Ituano so far, having scored 8 goals in all competitions. The Brazilian started his career as a Futsal player for Corinthians but made the big step when he joined Ituano in 2016.

He signed his first professional contract in 2017, almost a year before becoming the youngest player to play for the club in 100 years.

Martinelli is a typical Brazilian striker who is fast, tricky and has that flair to excite the crowd. He is brilliant with his back to the goal and possesses that quick change of pace to get away from defenders with ease.

The Brazilian, at such a young age, has the tremendous ability to drop himself to wider or deeper positions to free up space in the middle. His hold-up play is quite decent, especially when he’s under 6 feet tall.

His dribbling when in wide areas shows that he can be used as a winger too in the future because of his pace and ability to get in behind the defenders. Martinelli also boasts of a brilliant first touch and is often seen plucking the ball out of the air like he’s been doing it all his life.

Martinelli’s biggest asset is his right foot. His awareness in front of goal is exceptional for his age and is a calm and composed finisher even when under pressure. He is a constant threat in set-piece situations and despite his height, he is a fantastic header of the ball.

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Conclusion

Gabriel Martinelli is nowhere near the quality of a Premier League player right now but under the right manager, he will surely develop into one.

His pace and technical ability on the ball at such a young age is a trait that would be welcomed in England and a move to a club like Arsenal who have a vast history of developing young players is something that would be terrific.