Arsenal

Arsenal

Premier League • England

Rio Ferdinand reveals ‘special’ Arsenal talent Mikel Arteta compared to former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez

Arsenal attackers Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli

Rio Ferdinand has revealed how Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta once likened one of his impressive young attackers to former Liverpool forward Luis Suarez.

Brazilian winger Gabriel Martinelli turned in a Man of the Match performance as the Gunners returned to the top of the Premier League table after beating Liverpool 3-2 in a thriller at The Emirates on Sunday.

The 21-year-old scored the opening goal in the first minute before setting Bukayo Saka for his first to give Arsenal the lead at the break.

Martinelli has so far scored four and laid on two assists in the league. And his dazzling form was too much for Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, who had a torrid time before being taken off with an injury at half-time.

Former England skipper Ferdinand has now revealed that he spoke to Arteta about Martinelli several years ago.

Speaking on his Vibe with FIVE YouTube show, Ferdinand said: “I love Martinelli, love him. I saw Arteta a couple of years ago, at Bournemouth away, and Martinelli was just coming through.

“I said to him, ‘What’s he like man? He looks good to me. I like the look of this kid.’

“And he went, ‘He’s going to be special’. I asked him what type of player he is, who is he like, and he said, ‘There’s a bit of Suarez in there’. And I was like ‘That’s enough for me, he’s gonna be a problem’.

“He’s a bad player. He was the wrong ingredient for Trent [Alexander-Arnold] when he’s searching for confidence. The wrong ingredient. He did not need that!”

Martinelli, meanwhile, has revealed that talks are underway over a new Emirates contract.

Not another Arsenal false dawn

Arsenal‘s latest win was their eighth in nine league outings this season. And Ferdinand actually feels like there might be something brewing in north London after numerous false dawns.

He continued: “We’ve always sat here and there’s been moments over the last few years, since Wenger really, where we’ve gone, ‘They look like they’re onto something… oh no they’re not, they fell again’.

“But this smells different. I must admit, this smells different. And I wish Arteta the best of luck because I like the way he carries himself, I like him, and I really like watching the Arsenal team now I’ve got to say. Martinelli and Saka and Jesus, I love them.”

Ferdinand also singled out summer signing Gabriel Jesus for the impact he’s had at The Emirates.

He added: “He [Jesus] could have sat at City and just won trophy after trophy. But he’s gone to Arsenal where he’s upped their levels I think. And he’s an important member of that team. Not that he wasn’t important at City but he’s more important here.”

The Gunners are next in action against Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League on Thursday night, having beaten the Norwegian outfit in London last week.

The next Premier League outing is a tricky trip to Leeds United on Sunday afternoon.

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