Gabriel Martinelli has revealed that lining up opposite Cristiano Ronaldo was proof that he'd made it.
Arsenal's young forward played in the 3-2 defeat at Old Trafford back in November, a game in which Ronaldo grabbed a brace.
Martinelli would've been just seven years old when United's No 7 claimed his first Ballon d'Or back in 2008.
He has gone on to add another four, cementing himself in football's record books whilst he continues to be prolific at the age of 37.
Ronaldo's exploits and status has inspired the next generation with Martinelli among them.
“When I saw Ronaldo in the game against United I couldn’t really believe he was there,” the Brazilian teenager told Soccer Bible.
“I saw him and I was like, ‘wow this is Ronaldo.’ I’m a bit shy, so I didn’t say anything, just shook hands with him. But to play against my idols shows that I’ve got there.”
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Martinelli is looking to make himself a regular for Arsenal as the Gunners eye a place in next season's Champions League.
That could be at Ronaldo's and United's expense as the two English giants battle it out for the final place in the top four.
Arsenal's 20-year-old star scored in their recent win over Watford which bolstered their hopes of finishing in fourth.
Martinelli arrived in England as an unknown quantity back in 2019 but has proved his worth when given opportunities and looks to have a big future.
His efforts have earned high praise from Jurgen Klopp, who referred to the Brazilian as "talent of the century" in his first season.
He has since said: "Little Martinelli, we will talk about this player in the future, I can promise."
Arteta is the man tasked with plotting Martinelli's development and has previously praised his ambition and passion whilst urging the player to manage himself during games.
"He (Martinelli) trains incredibly hard, he is always willing to do more and he is not scared or afraid to take risks - and that is what I like about him," he said earlier this season.
"You cannot play every action at 100mph, it is impossible.
"It is not very efficient for you because you burn yourself out after a few minutes, and then you're just chasing a situation and not reading exactly what is needed.
"Gabi is doing much better at that. We have to try to do that without losing the passion, the energy and this capacity he has to just affect the game with the way he acts on the pitch."
