Rising Arsenal star Gabriel Martinelli is unfazed by the vicious criticism of his inclusion in the Brazil squad for the World Cup.
Tite named Gunners duo Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus among the 26 players he will take to Qatar next week after their brilliant starts to the season. The former has scored five goals and grabbed two assists to help the north London club reach the Premier League summit as we approach the mid-season break.
Many view his inclusion in the Brazil squad as a just reward for the leaps and bounds he is making at Emirates Stadium. However, former Selecao midfielder Neto tore into Tite's decision to take the 21-year-old to the Middle East, labelling it a "joke".
The 56-year-old accused the Brazil manager of showing a "lack of respect" for Gabriel Barbosa by naming Martinelli in the squad instead of the prolific Flamengo forward, declaring: "Arsenal are not even in the Champions League." However, the Gunners prospect insists he is "pretty cool" about the situation as he is confident in his own ability to aid Brazil's World Cup campaign.
"I think this is normal. Some people in Brazil don't know me and it's also normal to say that other players deserved to be there [the squad]. But I'm pretty cool about it. I think this is normal," Gabriel Martinelli told ESPN Brasil, per Sport Witness.
"I know what I'm doing at my club, I know my ability and I know what I can do. And you can be sure that I will do my best for the Brazilian team, in whatever I can help the team I will help. It will be a great experience for me."
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Although Arsenal defender Gabriel has not been called up to the Brazil squad, numerous Gunners players have been selected for their respective national teams. These include England trio Aaron Ramsdale, Bukayo Saka and Benjamin White, and Martinelli is delighted for his club teammates, even though he may end up facing off with them in the knockout stages in Qatar.
"Everyone was very happy for us to be in the World Cup," Martinelli added. "It's good for Arsenal, too, to have players in the World Cup. And everyone was very happy, we are a very united team.
"Today, there was also the call-up of Bukayo, Aaron, Ben, so we are happy for each other. We know that we are at the top of the Premier League, but this is just the beginning, and that we still have a lot of work to do."
Brazil take on Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon in the World Cup group.
