Martinelli bags PFA award
Arsenal continues to grace the Premier League with gifted young talent and Brazilian starlet Gabriel Martinelli has received his just rewards after bagging the PFA Player of the Month award for December.
? Our December Premier League PFA @VertuMotors Fans’ Player of the Month is @gabimartinelli!#PFAFPOTM | @Arsenal pic.twitter.com/IPZeoLUEG4
— Professional Footballers’ Association (@PFA) January 13, 2022
The Brazilian youth international made six appearances (all starts) for Mikel Arteta‘s Gunners in the Premier League where he found the back of the net on three occasions while adding two assists across multiple influential performances.
While on his way to the monthly recognition, the Arsenal forward out-paced clubmate Martin Ødegaard as well as Leicester City’s James Maddison, Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling, Tottenham ace Son Heung-min, and Southampton standout James Ward-Prowse.
After his successful month, Martinelli now sits on nine goals for Arsenal in 41-appearances in the Premier League and looks set to continue as a first-choice option for both now and the future on the left side of the forward line.
Brazilian starlet to feature against Liverpool
Gabriel Martinelli was named as part of a strong Arsenal XI as the Gunners are set to clash with Liverpool in the first-leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final tie against Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool at Anfield in just under an hour’s time.
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 15: Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal scores his teams first goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and West Ham United at Emirates Stadium on December 15, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images)
Mikel Arteta opted to roll out his best-possible Arsenal lineup despite the North London Derby clash with Tottenham on Sunday, with academy graduates Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah also featuring veteran French forward Alexandre Lacazette just behind the England youth international forward.
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The Reds to face @Arsenal in the @Carabao_Cup semi-final! #LIVARS
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 13, 2022
Liverpool deployed in kind, however, with Klopp trotting out his strongest available team with only Sadio Mané and Naby Keïta (both on AFCON duty) as the notable absentees. The likes of Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmino, Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Andrew Robertson have all been given the nod in what is shaping up to be a tasty encounter on Merseyside.
