If we are honest, very few people knew who Gabriel Martinelli was when we signed him. An unknown 18-year-old from Ituano in Sao Paulo who made his Premier League debut very early in his time at the club having impressed since his arrival.
Now, it is not like suddenly our expectations for future signings of a similar ilk can be sky-high, but the misfortune incoming Brazilian Marquinhos faces is certainly that what people will want to see is a similar impression. That’s just how it works, especially at Arsenal.
football.london understands that Arsenal have agreed to sign Marquinhos for a fee in the region of £3 million from Sao Paulo. Comparatively less than what Martinelli was bought for.
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So, who is Marquinhos and why are Arsenal so interested in him? Looking at his profile it seems as though the last thing Arsenal needs is another young winger.
Martinelli is already part of a young group of wingers such as Emile Smith-Rowe and Bukayo Saka. However, the reality is that Smith-Rowe’s future may lie more centrally whilst Nicolas Pepe and Reiss Nelson are likely to move on in the summer.
Arsenal have been linked with a number of wide players including Cody Gakpo and Moussa Diaby. However, considering the fee, this deal seems like a ‘what is there to lose?’ type of deal. The figure is so small that Marquinhos would surely make a profit on any future sale. Where the benefits of realising his potential are worth exploring.
For Sao Paulo, he has played on both flanks and centrally at youth level. He is a pacy player with a good left foot who loves to drive at the opposition box. Looking at the graphic below detailing where his shots and deliveries occur, it is clear how direct he has become. Arsenal have lacked threat inside the area and it has cost them in their chase for top four.
Despite his successes, he does need to refine his overall game and the final pass or shot can definitely improve. Although this is hardly a wild criticism for a 19-year-old.
Looking at some of the goals he’s scored, Marquinhos displays a range of finishing types. Seemingly his favoured and most successful approach is cutting in from the right and shooting around the keeper towards the far post with his left foot.
However, as shown in the images, he has scored by going across the keeper from the left with his left. But also that he is not afraid to take on an aerial chance as well, scoring a well-timed header past the keeper.
There is a chance that should Marquinhos impress when he joins that he might earn himself a spot on the pre-season tour of the United States. Make an impression here and the route carved by Martinelli might be there to be trodden once again.
Expectations should, however, be tempered and Marquinhos will expect further attacking arrivals of a more senior nature to provide additional obstacles. No complaints however about the club moving for a bonus signing when the opportunity presents itself.
