When Brazil manager Tite released the list of players who are going to the World Cup, one of the biggest surprises was the presence of Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli.
The 21-year-old is undoubtedly having a great start season with the Gunners, but he doesn’t have much history with the national side.
Martinelli has played three matches for Brazil, all this year, none of them as a starter, and not getting any goals or assists. He wasn’t even called up for their final friendlies before the final list was out.
Still, it seems what the forward has been doing at Arsenal is more than enough to give him a place. When asked about the player in a press conference on Monday, Tite was very clear about the call-up, pointing out the qualities that brought the youngster to the national team this time.
“Gabriel Martinelli’s role: Outward, winger, aggressive. He’s been one of the highlights at Arsenal, at the top of the Premier League. A player of individual plays, of transitions in speed. Who was with us in two call-ups, who’s been maintaining this high level,” Tite told the local media (via Globo Esporte).
“In this competition, we say that these athletes compete at a high level. Others could have been called up, and it would have been fully fair. And there are arguments for others that could be called, that’s also true. They are choices. Choosing an athlete that he is… within the characteristics of the team and the model, we need sharp players on the sides. Incisors on the sides. That’s how the team came together. So having these players, which is the case with Martinelli as well.”
Featuring for Arsenal this season, Gabriel Martinelli has five goals and two assists. Fighting for a place in attack, there were also the likes of Roberto Firmino, Matheus Cunha and Gabriel Barbosa.
