Mikel Arteta has backed Gabriel Martinelli to continue improving following the forward’s impressive run of form for Arsenal.
Martinelli has been in fine form in recent weeks and extended his record to seven goals in his last eight Premier League appearances against Liverpool last weekend. The 21-year-old has scored 14 goals in the top-flight this season and is the highest scoring Brazilian across Europe’s top five divisions.
It’s been a season of development from Martinelli who has been a key figure in Arsenal’s title challenge, with the Gunners six point clear at the top of the division ahead of Sunday’s trip to face West Ham.
Arteta has praised Martinelli’s attitude and has backed the Brazilian to get even better as he continues to learn and gain experience.
“He’s playing more games that’s for sure. He’s got another year of experience, huge understanding with his team-mates. The way he approaches every single session. The way he approaches his training, his life,” Arteta told his pre-match press conference.
“He strives to be the best. When that happens and you have the consistency that he has in how he deals with every situation every day, only good outcomes are going to be in front of him.
“I’m not surprised about that but still he has a lot of things to improve.”
Arteta will come up against his former manager in David Moyes when Arsenal meet West Ham this weekend. The Spaniard played under Moyes at Everton and lavished praise on the 59-year-old, who is under pressure at West Ham as the club battle for survival.
“I think more than respect it’s admiration. I loved playing for him, I would go through a brick wall for him when he was my manager and i think everybody would in that squad. A really good coach.
“Exceptional at managing the group and dealing with individuals and then a very special person. A really special human being. Very trustworthy and a man who honours his word. He always did it and someone who I learned a lot from. He saw things in me I didn’t know and asked me to play in positions I never played before in my life.”
