Arsenal starlet Gabriel Martinelli likened to Brazil legend Ronaldo – ‘The way that he picks up the ball and runs at goal is phenomenal’

Arsenal wonderkid Gabriel Martinelli is a ‘phenomenal talent’ who has similar qualities to former Brazil striker Ronaldo.

The 19-year-old forward burst on to the scene at the Emirates last season, scoring 10 goals in 26 appearances and clearly left a mark on former striker Kevin Campbell.

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Martinelli was a revelation for the Gunners last season

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Brazilian Ronaldo was one of the world’s best strikers

Martinelli has since been ruled out until the end of the year with a serious knee injury suffered in training in June.

But Campbell, the father of Stoke starlet Tyrese, has backed Martinelli to bounce back from his injury woes and reach the very top echelons of the game.

“I think Martinelli is the one, I really do,” Campbell told Football Insider. “Martinelli was sensational when he came in last season.

“He is a real handful – strong, direct and reminds me of the Brazilian Ronaldo. The way that he picks up the ball and runs at goal is phenomenal.

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“I am not saying that he is Ronaldo but he reminds me of him, especially with that goal he scored at Chelsea [in January].

“He has a big future but I do not want to put too much pressure on him because he suffered that injury and he needs time to come back and get his feet under the table again, get comfortable and play games.

“Players tend to get long-term injuries and then come back and pick a niggle up somewhere else. He will need time to get back into the swing of things.”

Like Ronaldo, Martinelli left Brazil for Europe as a teenager and became the best player in the world and his efforts have not gone unnoticed in South America.

In January, Ronaldinho explained people in his homeland were excited about his potential and pointed out similar personality traits to Ronaldo.

“He wanted the ball, he would run at players, there was no fear no matter what players or team he was playing against – and I see that similar attitude in Martinelli. He just wants to be on the ball and score goals.”