Ferdinand compares Martinelli to Arsenal legend after brace vs Palace
Gabriel Martinelli entered the game as a substitute and netted two goals for Arsenal in their 5-0 triumph over Arsenal at the Emirates on Saturday.
In the post-match analysis on TNT Sports, pundits Rio Ferdinand and Martin Keown drew parallels between the Brazilian forward and Arsenal icon Thierry Henry, particularly highlighting the style of both players’ contributions in the closing moments of the match.
Following Gabriel Martinelli’s two-goal performance in Arsenal’s 5-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday, Rio Ferdinand and Martin Keown drew comparisons between the Brazilian forward and Thierry Henry.
The win was crucial for Arsenal to stay competitive in the Premier League race with Manchester City, Liverpool, and Aston Villa.
Two early set-piece goals set the tone for the convincing victory. Rio Ferdinand, speaking on TNT Sports, emphasized the significance of the early goals in calming both the team and the fans at the Emirates.
He said: “You want to start the game. They controlled much of the opening spells of the game, then they get a set piece and score two goals. When you look at it I think Mikel Arteta will be delighted with the way his team have responded, on the back of two defeats.
“The set-piece coach has done a magnificent job.”
He continued: “Another bad result would have sent this place into hysteria. You’ve got City, who have a relentless pace at this stage of the season.
“They have to stay with it. That goal quietened the whole place, the anxiety. They were able to build on that and at the end of the game they were playing free-flowing football we’re used to seeing Arsenal play.”
Martinelli entered the game as a late substitute, swiftly scoring two goals to secure the victory.
The winger, coming in from the left, expertly curled the ball around Dean Henderson in goal.
This performance easily invited comparisons to Thierry Henry, given the reminiscent style of play between the two players.
Ferdinand added: “This is what I liked about him. The defender makes a bad decision… but he has the composure, the calmness in front of goal. That was Thierry Henry-ish, getting in those areas, he was magnificent at doing that.”
Keown concurred, saying: “He was and he does his work off the ball rather than running with it. It was the perfect time to bring him on, spaces were opening up. The second goal he gets is carbon copy, the same sort of space.
“I think it was really good for Martinelli to get confidence to get off the bench. It’s good for the group for him to come on and get those two goals.”
Prior to the match, Ferdinand and Keown had addressed Arsenal’s goal-scoring issues, expressing particular concern about Gabriel Jesus’ inability to deliver as a traditional striker.
Following the victory, Keown, while acknowledging his admiration for Jesus, pointed out that the striker’s inclination to drift wide could be indicative of both a problem and an alternative role for him within the team.
He said: “I like him as a player, I think he’s an excellent player. I just feel there’s an issue, is he really the predator? Does he want to get into that central position.
“It almost seemed he went back to type there, ‘I’ll wander into a wide position and then I’ll feed somebody else.’
“He doesn’t really make the runs into the box. You’ve got to want to really get there. There’s got to be the desire to get to the ball. He can see the space, but for whatever reason he doesn’t want to get into that area. Then they don’t feed him, they don’t give him the ball, but that’s an area he just needs to work on.
“It’s interesting, Pep [Guardiola] had him for a few years and decided to use him in that right position. That looked like the role he took up for Manchester City. But if he’s gonna be Arsenal’s centre-forward then there’s going to have to be more work done keeping him in that central position. But he works so hard for the team, he’s an outstanding talent, but I don’t see him as a predator right now.”
Ferdinand agreed that Jesus needed to be used more centrally if he was to lead the line for the club, saying: “He’s got to want to be inside that 18-yard box. I think he’s looked more comfortable in and around these areas, wide areas. A bit of space and the responsibility of goals isn’t there.”
Ferdinand compares Martinelli to Arsenal legend after brace vs Palace