At a Glance:
- Brazil lost 2-1 to France in a friendly in the United States on Thursday.
- Gabriel Martinelli played 62 minutes before being hooked by Carlo Ancelotti.
- The Arsenal winger played on both the right and left for the Selecao.
Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli played 62 minutes for Brazil as Carlo Ancelotti’s side were beaten by France in an international friendly on Thursday.
Despite scoring just one Premier League goal this season, Martinelli has consistently been included in Ancelotti’s squad since the Italian assumed the role of Brazil head coach. The former Real Madrid manager has favoured the hard-working Gunner star over the likes of Rodrygo and Joao Pedro on several occasions, and the 24-year-old therefore looks likely to be involved in the South American giants’ squad for the tournament this summer in North America.
He was, however, involved in a disappointing Brazil performance against France in Massachusetts. Goals from Kylian Mbappe and Hugo Ekitike cancelled out a strike from Gleison Bremer, condemning the Selecao to just their third defeat under Ancelotti’s stewardship.
Brazilian media make interesting claim about Gabriel Martinelli’s performance vs France
Arsenal could sell Martinelli this summer, with the wide forward’s contract set to expire in the summer of 2027. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Anthony Gordon are among the Gunners’ list of targets, and thus, Martinelli has little time left to prove that he should be kept in North London over Leandro Trossard.
One way he could convince Mikel Arteta to stay faithful to him is to demonstrate that he can be used in multiple roles. If the Spaniard was observing Brazil’s game against France from afar, then he may have been left impressed by Martinelli’s versatility.
The former Ituano man was initially deployed on the left by Ancelotti against Les Blues, although he and Raphinha rotated flanks throughout the first half. According to Brazilian media outlet Globo Esporte, Martinelli actually looked more threatening on the right, which is usually his weaker side.
The publication gave the winger a 5.5 rating, writing: “He played on both sides of the attack and was most dangerous on the right. At 26 minutes, he created Brazil’s best chance of the first half with a shot from outside the box. Just discreet.”
Could Gabriel Martinelli be an option on the right for Arsenal?
Last season, Martinelli was regularly deployed on the right-hand side of Arsenal’s attack during Bukayo Saka’s injury lay-off. While he had some promising games on this flank, he was largely ineffective operating on the side of his stronger foot.
That’s why Arteta will undoubtedly be fascinated to hear that the winger looked more comfortable on the right in this match.
| Gabriel Martinelli’s statistics vs France | |
| Minutes Played | 62 |
| Touches | 20 |
| Shots | 2 |
| Accurate Passes | 10/10 (100%) |
| Chances Created | 0 |
| Touches in Opposition Box | 3 |
Playing on this side can often simplify his game, encouraging him to utilise his pace by driving to the by-line before whipping in dangerous crosses or cut-backs. It prevents him from overthinking and attempting more elaborate dribbles, which he’s not particularly good at pulling off.
That said, the presence of Saka, Noni Madueke and even Max Dowman on this side likely means that minutes will be hard to come by off the right. That’s not to say that he can’t be used there for short periods of matches, and this outing for Brazil may well encourage Arteta to try this.
