Martinelli Declares Saka Irreplaceable As Arsenal Thrives Without Him

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Gabriel Martinelli has praised his Arsenal colleague, Bukayo Saka, as one of the world's top players. He emphasised that no one in the squad can fill Saka's shoes. Saka is expected to be sidelined for up to two months due to hamstring surgery following an injury during their 5-1 victory over Crystal Palace earlier this month.

Arsenal has managed well without Saka, securing three consecutive Premier League wins, including a recent triumph against Brentford. These victories have propelled Arsenal to second place in the league standings, trailing leaders Liverpool by six points. However, Liverpool has a game in hand over Arsenal.

The depth of Arsenal's squad has been crucial recently, with Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus finding their scoring form at the right moment. Both players scored against Brentford; Jesus equalised after Bryan Mbeumo's goal, and Martinelli sealed the win after Mikel Merino put Arsenal ahead.

Martinelli has been in excellent form, scoring in three of his last four away Premier League matches. This is more than he managed in his previous 26 away games. Meanwhile, Jesus has netted six goals in his last four appearances across all competitions, matching his total from the previous 48 games.

Despite Martinelli's impressive performance since Saka's injury, he remains adamant about Saka's importance to the team. "No-one can replace him," Martinelli told TNT Sports. "He is one of the best players in the world." He also expressed confidence in himself and his teammates to give their best for the club.

This season, Martinelli has scored six goals in 25 appearances across all competitions. He is just two goals shy of equalling his total from the entire 2023-24 campaign. Two seasons ago, he played a pivotal role in Arsenal's title challenge by scoring 15 Premier League goals in 36 matches.

Reflecting on Arsenal’s first top-flight away win after trailing since February 2023, Martinelli acknowledged the challenges faced over the past two years. "I think the team did great today," he said. "To come here and play the way we played is amazing."

Martinelli highlighted how crucial it was to secure three points and praised their response after falling behind. He added that he continues to work hard every day at Arsenal and is determined to keep scoring to help the team succeed.

After their latest match, Mikel Arteta was cautious about discussing Arsenal’s chances of overtaking Liverpool for the Premier League title. In contrast, Martinelli expressed optimism about their prospects: "Yes, for sure," he said confidently about their potential success this season.

The Brazilian forward recalled how they were close contenders for the league title over the past two years despite not winning it. His confidence reflects a belief that Arsenal can continue competing at a high level this season as well.