Most dribbles in an Arsenal game for three years - Is Martinelli key to a Gunners title challenge?

Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard got the goals for Arsenal in their 2-0 win against Sevilla in the Champions League on Wednesday night, but it was Gabriel Martinelli who was the biggest thorn in the Spanish team’s side. You couldn't help but feel sympathetic for Sevilla right-back Juanlu Sánchez - no defender has been dribbled past more times in a Champions League game in the last eight seasons than he was against Arsenal (eight times). Martinelli became the first Arsenal player to complete nine successful dribbles in a match since Nicolas Pépé against Olympiacos in the Europa League in 2020. The Brazilian was giving Juanlu nightmares. 

Arsenal sit third in the Premier League, and are out of the English League Cup. They top their Champions League group, but it’s not been the electric start to the season some Gunners expected after their surprise title challenge last campaign, and that could be because they haven't seen the best of their Brazilian winger just yet.

How has Martinelli performed this season?

It’s been an unsettled season so far for Martinelli, hampered by a hamstring injury picked up in a 1-0 win against Everton which forced him to miss four games, before he was reintroduced from the bench against Manchester City at the Emirates, and scored the winner that day. And it’s perhaps without him, you really notice the effect he has on the team - Arsenal lost and drew in those four games without their Brazilian star, with a win percentage of just 50%, compared to 72.8% with Martinelli in the side this season.

After the win against Sevilla, midfielder Declan Rice was speaking about the wingers at Arsenal Martinelli and Saka, and said, “I think tonight was massive for them for their confidence. I think 1v1 they were frightening, every time they had the full-backs 1v1, they drove at them and I wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of that to be honest with you! They were both electric.”

Despite his injury this season, Martinelli has the joint most successful dribbles in the Premier League for Arsenal alongside Saka, and is only behind Saka and captain Martin Ødegaard for shots on target and key passes, despite playing less football. His goal and assists combined total of just three in 12 games in all competitions will be a cause for concern, but Martinelli and Arsenal supporters will be hoping his fine display in the Champions League against Sevilla can be the base for him to reach the lofty heights he accomplished last season. 

Speaking after the talented winger’s winning goal against Manchester City back in October, manager Mikel Arteta said, ““His mentality is incredible at his age, it’s a joy to have him. Today he could change a game and he was really helpful for us to win. He’s been saying for a few weeks that I was going to be there for City. Obviously, we were saying that Gabi, it would be too early for you, and yesterday he said, boss I told you, I’m going to be ready for this, and it happened after 30 minutes that Leo felt something in his hamstring. When I turned around, he was already ready to go with his kit, and saying ‘boss, I’m ready to go’. He’s just got the joy of a kid.” Martinelli’s eagerness and boyish will to win could be a deciding factor in bringing silverware to North London.

How does Martinelli compare to other top wingers?

Last term, he was the club’s joint top scorer in the Premier League with 15 goals. Martinelli was also joint second for shots on target, and second to only Saka for successful dribbles at Arsenal. If we compare those numbers to the other top wingers in Europe’s top five leagues, only Kylian Mbappé (29), Mohamed Salah (19), Marcus Rashford (17), and Lionel Messi (16), scored more league goals than Martinelli from those listed as a winger on Opta. The Arsenal man is by far the youngest player on that list at 22 - the next youngest 26-year-old Rashford.

When it comes to market value, Martinelli’s rose a further €10m in the latest Premier League market value update to take his value to €80m. The only wingers in world football with a higher market value are Mbappé (€180m), Vinicius Junior (€150m), team-mate Saka (€120m), Phil Foden (€110m), Rafael Leão (€90m) and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (€85m). Martinelli is one of the very best and irreplaceable for Arsenal. The duo of himself and Saka down each wing are one of Arsenal’s key forces, and if the club are to wrestle the title from Pep Guardiola's team, their young wingers will be playing centre stage.