Gabriel Martinelli scored in Arsenal’s 6-0 rout of Sheffield United on Monday night (Picture: Getty Images)
Freddie Ljungberg reckons Mikel Arteta will find Gabriel Martinelli annoying as the Brazilian doesn’t always do what he is told, but that is also what makes the Arsenal forward so dangerous.
The 22-year-old scored his sixth Premier League goal of the season in the 6-0 demolition of Sheffield United on Monday night at Bramall Lane.
The Brazil international was handed his first Premier League start for the Gunners by Ljungberg during his brief stint as interim manager before Arteta took over and the Swede is a big fan of his game.
However, the Arsenal legend recognises that the forward might frustrate Arteta at times because he doesn’t necessarily follow orders brilliantly.
‘Martinelli has a feeling of football, and that’s what I liked with Martinelli in the team today,’ Ljungberg told Premier League Productions after the thrashing of the Blades.
‘They are quite rigid and structured, how Arsenal play. I think Martinelli is the one sometimes, I think Arteta gets annoyed with him sometimes for not doing exactly what he’s told.
‘He goes, he does things, he shows up and I love that. It’s hard to read Martinelli.’
Mikel Arteta has shown great faith in Martinelli while in charge of Arsenal (Picture: Getty Images)
Ljungberg reckons there is more to come from Martinelli, who scored 15 league goals last season, and was not shy of taking a little bit of credit for throwing him into the first time during his stint in charge.
‘I think he has more to offer,’ said the Swede. ‘I always saw him as having that extra.
‘I believed in him, that’s why I wanted to give the young ones a shot. I knew I wasn’t staying the whole time when I was interim, I felt, if I could help the young players get a bit of confidence, other coaches see them playing in the Premier League, that will help them and that’s what I tried to do.’
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