NELLI THE ELEGANT
Gabriel well Ron his way to being best in world
RONALDINHO has tipped Gabriel Martinelli to emulate another Brazilian legend and become the best player in the world.
The former Barcelona forward says the Arsenal teenager has all the attributes to follow in the footsteps of samba superstar Ronaldo.
He was regarded as one of the all-time greats during a glittering career that spanned spells with Barcelona, Inter Milan and Real Madrid, among others.
And Ronaldinho can see similarities between ‘Il Fenomeno’ and Martinelli, 18.
He said: “We, as Brazilians, are very excited about him and his future. It is one thing to have the talent but another, at the age of 18, to have the confidence.
“He reminds me of Ronaldo. In his first season in Europe he scored 30 goals and people were thinking, ‘Who is this 18-year-old Brazilian kid?’
“He wanted the ball, he would run at players, there was no fear no matter what players or team he was playing against. I see that similar attitude in Martinelli.
“He just wants to be on the ball and score goals. Ronaldo went on to be the best player in the world and that can also be the aim of Martinelli.”
The starlet has already become the first Arsenal teenager to score 10 goals in all competitions since Nicolas Anelka in 1998 and goes into tonight’s FA Cup clash at Bournemouth with two goals in his last two games.
The Gunners plucked him from relative obscurity last summer when they signed him for just £7m from Sao Paulo-based club Ituano.
Real Madrid are keeping tabs on him and Ronaldinho believes a full cap is just around the corner.
He added: “Historically the national team has never been concerned with age. Ronaldo was playing for Brazil at 17.
“More recently, Neymar and (Gabriel) Jesus have played an important role when they were only teenagers.
“If you have the ability and the talent, then you will get the chance and the world can see that he has the talent.
“I am sure that his first Brazil cap is very close – he is ready.”
Martinelli’s boss Mikel Arteta is ready to stand by Shkodran Mustafi, despite the centreback’s habit of making high-profile howlers.
Arteta wants to strengthen his defence with a move for Flamengo defender Pablo Mari but Mustafi could still feature this evening.
Praising his attitude, despite another costly mistake at Chelsea last Tuesday, Arteta said: “I’ve worked with players like this, I’ve had team-mates like this and there is always a moment where there is a click.
“I can accept a mistake. What I’m not going to accept is someone who makes a mistake and after he stops playing, he doesn’t want the ball, he doesn’t want to make decisions.
“That player is not acceptable for our team. But Musti, after that, he tried to play every single time. He went for every single challenge, he put his body on the line.
“He was down afterwards, yes, but he reacted and if he does that, he will overcome the situation.
“I ask him to play the way we want to play, he made a mistake. On another day it will be someone else.
“Obviously we want to minimise that as quickly as possible and find the reason why that happens, but I like his reaction after that.”