Emery delight as Martinelli shows ‘hunger’ for success
Once again it was a night for Gabriel Martinelli, the Brazilian striker who boasts a granite forehead to match his dancing feet.
Arsenal’s latest teenage sensation is not their only teenage sensation at the moment, but for the second week running he was the most exciting figure on an invigorating night of cup competition.
The Arsenal supporters are still getting to know Martinelli, their 18-year-old summer signing who was seen as one for the future but is increasingly part of the present. Unai Emery is in the process of getting to know him too and, at times, Martinelli gives the impression that he is still getting to know himself.
He is certainly raw. A little wideeyed, perhaps. A little frantic. But Martinelli is also remarkably effective for a player of his age and limited first-team experience. This was just his second start in European football, and his two goals here were his third and fourth in Arsenal colours after last week’s dismantling of Nottingham Forest.
Even Pierre-emerick Aubameyang, the young forward’s mentor supreme, would struggle to post those sorts of numbers. First there was the thumping header, which looked more Gateshead than Guarulhos, Martinelli’s place of birth. Then there was a curling finish more typical of Brazilian forwards, and there was even a dinked assist as Arsenal pummelled a Standard Liege side who had no answer to the home side’s imagination and energy.
“In every training session he showed us he is hungry to be with us and to have that opportunity to show his capacity,” said Emery, whose side have a strong grasp on their Europa League group after two emphatic victories. “His performance and attitude was amazing. If he continues to play with that hunger, he is going to do well.”
Alongside Martinelli there were star showings from Reiss Nelson, another teenager, and from midfielder Joe Willock. At the back Hector Bellerin made his first start since January, captaining the side on his return from injury, while Dani Ceballos scored his opening goal for Arsenal in the second half.
It was a night that oozed positivity for Arsenal and for Emery, even if the standard of Standard left plenty to be desired. All the excitement provided a welcome distraction from the latest instalment in the Mesut Ozil saga, which is threatening to become even more tedious than those old debates about whether Arsene Wenger should stay or go. For the second match in succession, Ozil was not even deemed worthy of a place on the bench. “Every time I decide the best players for each match and the best players in the squad to help us,” said Emery. “I decided he is not in the squad because I think other players deserve it more.”
All of those who played will feel that they now deserve to feature in the Premier League. The excellent Kieran Tierney will hope to make his league debut soon, while Willock continues to develop at a startling rate in midfield. His first-half goal, a steered finish after Nelson’s shot had deflected into his path, was his sixth goal in 15 matches under Emery’s management.
Arsenal were already two goals to the good by then, thanks to the industry of Tierney and Nelson down the left and, above all, the finishing of Martinelli. The teenager’s spectacular header, from Tierney’s whipped delivery, set the tone. His second, shifting the ball from left to right and then curling beyond Standard goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-savic, was incisive.
Martinelli’s start to life at Arsenal has been made all the more impressive by the fact that he is, according to his head coach, not even playing in his preferred position. He was signed from Brazilian side Ituano as a winger mainly, but his two starts have both come in the centre of the Arsenal attack. It is safe to say he does not look out of his depth either as a central striker or, more broadly, as an Arsenal player.
He should have completed his hat-trick within eight minutes of the second half. Instead he curled over, fell over and then scuffed wide from Nelson’s cross. He was eventually able to turn creator, though, dinking a delicate chip into the path of Ceballos, whose stabbed volley made it four.
Standard had a few half-chances, but Emiliano Martinez stood firm. If there was one complaint for Arsenal, it would be that they could have scored more. And how the crowd would have loved Bellerin to have converted his late chance instead of spooning it over the bar. They cannot have it all, though, and Martinelli had provided more than enough entertainment.
Arsenal
Booking Standard Liege
Bookings Referee
Subs
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