Arsenal have been told to unleash their own 'Luis Suarez' against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The Gunners come into the highly-anticipated clash as favourites for the first time in years with Mikel Arteta's side enjoying a much better start to the season compared to Jurgen Klopp's team. Arsenal currently sit top of the Premier League by a single point, ahead of reigning champions Manchester City and four points ahead of north London rivals Spurs.
Gabriel Martinelli has enjoyed a brilliant start to the new season and is now playing a key role in the Arsenal attack alongside summer signing Gabriel Jesus and superstar Bukayo Saka. Klopp has been full of praise for the Brazilian winger in the past and has once again lauded Martinelli with the German claiming he 'was excited about him early on'.
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Chelsea icon Joe Cole joined Klopp in praising the 21-year-old ahead of the huge match at the weekend, comparing Martinelli to former Liverpool star Luis Suarez and ex-Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez. Speaking on BT Sport after the Gunners' 3-0 win against Bodo/Glimt, Cole said: “This is an outstanding footballer, I’ve loved him from the moment I laid eyes on him.
“He’s so busy, he reminds me of Alexis Sanchez and Luiz Suarez. He’s exceptional with the ball at his feet, he’s got great technique and he affects the game."
Arsenal were previously interested in signing Suarez from Liverpool after famously bidding £40,000,001 which sparked an interesting response from the Reds' owner John Henry. The Uruguayan striker enjoyed a rollercoaster career in the Premier League and was a thorn in the Gunners' side, with his talent on the pitch was unquestionable as he scored a record 31 goals in a season before Mohamed Salah beat his tally with 32 goals in the 2017/18 season.
Cole continued: “He [Martinelli] works so hard and I thought he was the man of the match in the north London derby [on Saturday]. When he gets the ball, there’s no thought of going back, he just keeps driving forward. He’s so tenacious.”
Speaking in his pre-Arsenal press conference, Klopp said: "A lot of talent. Martinelli, I was excited about him early, Odegaard, I spoke to him at 15 in Norway with his dad. Saka...oof." The Liverpool boss is clearly aware of the talent in the Arteta's squad and it is set up to be an entertaining spectacle on Sunday.
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