Ex-Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has dubbed manager Mikel Arteta a "genius" for the way the Gunners boss has handled Gabriel Martinelli's development.
The 20-year-old Brazilian arrived as an unknown from the fourth tier of Brazilian football but quickly showcased his talent to the Arsenal faithful.
Purchased by previous boss Unai Emery, Martinelli spent a large portion of the early days of Arteta's reign either nursing his long-term knee injury or out of the side for tactical reasons.
However, just before the festive period this season the 20-year-old has proved too difficult to ignore in Arteta's eyes and been rewarded with a regular run of games from the start.
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For the most part, Martinelli has repaid Arteta's faith and has enjoyed some standout moments such as his delightful lob against Newcastle and a brace away at Leeds United.
The talented forward also channelled his inner Thierry Henry with an elegant finish at home to West Ham in mid-December.
Wilshere sat down with the club's media to discuss his observations after travelling with the squad for a mid-season warm weather training trip to Dubai.
He heralded the impact of academy stars Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe but also cited Martinelli as the player whose talent has surprised him the most.
Pressed on who has stood out the most, Wilshere has said: "The obvious ones that everyone knows about are Bukayo and Emile.
"But the one who I really like and I think is going to be top is Martinelli, I think what the manager has done with him has been genius as well.
"When I first went there, he was training and coming on, not playing much but training really well and I was thinking 'he's going to get his chance here' and he eventually got his chance and he’s been brilliant.
"He was the Player of the Month and he’s been brilliant and he trains like that every day as well."
Wilshere is not the only one to sing the praises of Martinelli, with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp a well-known admirer.
The Reds manager once dubbed the Brazilian the "talent of the century" back in 2019 following a Carabao Cup clash between the two sides in which Martinelli bagged two.
Klopp the club’s official website : "[Van den Berg] played an incredible game. That’s really difficult to deal with these guys.
"Martinelli’s pretty much the same age but he’s a talent of the century, he’s an incredible striker, so it’s really difficult."
More recently, after another clash between the pair, Klopp told the press: "Martinelli by the way…everybody should remember that name. Outstanding player."
