Ex-Arsenal star Paul Merson has told Gabriel Martinelli that he must learn from Bukayo Saka in order to fulfil his true potential.
The 21-year-old joined Arsenal three years ago in a deal worth £6million from then Brazilian fourth division side Ituano and has since made 84 appearances in all competitions for the Gunners, scoring 18 goals including 11 from 57 Premier League appearances.
His best years are still ahead of him as the forward is yet to hit his full potential, having had spells out of the side at the Emirates and missing the second half of 2020 after undergoing surgery on his knee.
With the hope that the 2022/23 campaign will be the one where the Gunners' Brazilian forward will look to firmly kick on, especially after the summer arrivals of fellow countrymen and forwards Gabriel Jesus and Marquinhos, Merson has urged the versatile forward to follow in the footsteps of fellow attacker Saka in order to reach the highest level he can.
Merson told the Daily Star : :"He's got pace, he's got quick feet, he's a good finisher. He's got everything. He just has to put it all out there for longer. I would like to see him get more involved in the game in the way Bukayo Saka does. He could learn from that.
"Saka has learned to stay involved and keep attacking, all the time. Martinelli needs to look at what Saka does and follow his example. If he gets it all together like Saka, he could be a really big gamechanger for Arsenal. A really important part of the team.
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"He needs a run in the team. He might argue he doesn't get enough time on the pitch, that he's one of the first to get subbed if a game goes badly. I think he needs a run of ten or 11 starts in a row where he can really bed down and feel settled and important."
Martinelli scored six goals in 36 appearances in all competitions last season, with all of his goals coming in the Premier League, doubling his previous best tally in a league campaign in England.
Earlier this year, the forward made his international debut at senior level and has gone on to win three caps for Brazil, playing against Chile and Bolivia in 4-0 qualifying victories for the World Cup in Qatar later this year. His latest cap came last month during a friendly win over Japan.
Martinelli is competing for minutes in the Gunners' front four among a large number of club teammates next season. The arrivals of Jesus and Marquinhos puts the Brazilian trio in competition with Saka, Eddie Nketiah, Martin Odegaard, Emile Smith Rowe, Nicolas Pepe, Folarin Balogun, Reiss Nelson and summer signing Fabio Vieira.
Arsenal have so far played two pre-season friendlies, beating Ipswich Town 5-1 behind closed doors before picking up a 5-3 victory over German side Nurnberg last Friday.
They are next in action in the early hours of Sunday morning, facing Everton in Baltimore, America in The Charm City Match.
