Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has heaped praise on Premier League rivals Arsenal, after being blown away by their summer signing Gabriel Martinelli.
The Brazilian starlet forward scored twice at Anfield in the recent 5-5 draw in the Carabao Cup, and also dispatched his penalty as the Reds managed to progress into the quarter-finals.
Klopp gave the Gunners’ transfer chief, Edu, all the credit for discovering the young forward, who has now managed to score seven goals in his eight appearances under Unai Emery.
“He’s 18 years old, right? So our scouting department is all over the world and stuff like this, but I think Edu gets all the credit for that signing – he came from… wherever,” he told the Express.
“He’s really unbelievable. So young, looks so mature already, is a proper threat.”
Martinelli arrived at the Emirates Stadium for only £6million in the summer and has yet to start a single Premier League game for Arsenal.
OPINION
The young Brazilian certainly knows where the back of the net is, and there is no arguing that Arsenal did well to secure his signing relatively under-the-radar in the summer. The 18-year-old played very well in the cup clash at Anfield, but the truth is, he missed many clear cut chances to earn his first hat-trick in English football, and undoubtedly send his side through to the quarter-finals. Liverpool definitely feel like they have missed out, but will know that they have a similarly talented young forward in Rhian Brewster in their system, and will want him to make a similar impact in front of goal when he is given an extended run in the side after failing to score in games against the Gunners and the MK Dons in the cup this season. The German did praise Edu after mentioning that his scouts are all over the world, and maybe they need to take a page from the Brazilian’s book heading into the January window this season.
