November 22nd 2024.
Anders Limpar, a former Arsenal winger and one of the club's first foreign superstars, recently expressed his sympathy for Gabriel Martinelli and his struggles this season. The talented Brazilian has been lacking in confidence and has only managed to score three goals in 17 games for both club and country. However, Martinelli did find the back of the net in Arsenal's recent match against Chelsea and Limpar hopes this will boost his performance going forward.
Speaking to mybettingsites.co.uk, Limpar shared his understanding of Martinelli's situation and how he can relate to it. "I feel a little bit sorry for Gabriel Martinelli because I know exactly what he's going through. He hasn't scored that many goals," Limpar stated. However, he also pointed out that if you look at the bigger picture, Martinelli's contribution to the team goes beyond just scoring and assisting goals.
Limpar compared Martinelli to another young star in the team, Bukayo Saka, who is known for his attacking prowess. "Saka, he's a point player - he scores and provides assists. Martinelli is the same but not in the same range." He also highlighted Martinelli's defensive responsibility and work rate, which often goes unnoticed. "If you look at them, who's taking responsibility in defence? It's Gabriel Martinelli," Limpar pointed out.
Having joined Arsenal after the 1990 World Cup, Limpar was known for his creativity and skills that contributed to the Gunners' title-winning campaign. However, he also fell out of favor due to his lack of defensive abilities. Drawing from his own experience, Limpar stated that Martinelli is different and has an outstanding work rate off the ball, which should not be overlooked.
"I feel a little bit sorry for Martinelli because he's tremendous for the team. So you shouldn't just look at his goal contributions. You should look at the whole picture," Limpar emphasized. He also acknowledged that for attacking players in top teams like Arsenal, Manchester City, and Liverpool, the focus is often on their end product. However, he believes that Martinelli's defensive responsibilities are hindering his end product and that should be taken into consideration.
Limpar also shared his admiration for Martinelli's teammate, Saka, who is considered one of the top players in the Premier League. "Saka is not the best defender. But they are unbelievable going forward," Limpar praised. However, he believes that Martinelli has a bigger heart for the team and is willing to work tirelessly for their success. "Out of the two, Martinelli has the bigger heart for the team," he stated, adding that it may be unfair to compare the two players as they have different roles in the team.
In conclusion, Limpar expressed his belief that Martinelli is underappreciated and often criticized unfairly. He acknowledged that Martinelli may not be the best defender, but his contributions to the team should not be overlooked. "He's not the best defender. But they are unbelievable going forward," Limpar reiterated, emphasizing that Martinelli's work rate and dedication to the team should be recognized and appreciated.
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