David Seaman has likened Leeds United forward Joe Gelhardt with Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli due to the energy he plays with on the pitch. Gelhardt has established himself as a fan favourite at the Whites in his breakthrough season, contributing to a number of goals despite being handed just two starts.
Gelhardt has scored two goals, provided one assist and won two penalties in 455 minutes of football, meaning he is averaging a contribution every 91 minutes. The 19-year-old is a nightmare for defenders due to his willingness to dribble with the ball, as well as his tenacious work rate when out of possession.
Arsenal winger Martinelli is similar to Gelhardt in that fashion, with his silky Brazilian skills matched by his incredible tenacity off the ball. He too has enjoyed an excellent season for the Gunners, keeping the in form Emile Smith Rowe on the bench with five goals and three assists in 19 appearances.
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With eight games of the season still left to play for Leeds, Gelhardt will be hoping for a run of starts following yet another frustrating injury blow for Patrick Bamford – who is now set to miss at least six more weeks of action. Speaking on the Seaman Says Podcast, the former Arsenal goalkeeper made the comparison between the two players due to the way they ‘annoy defenders’.
He said: “He reminds me of Martinelli at Arsenal. He’s one of them players who’s got tonnes of energy and with all that energy, he annoys defenders because he’s at them all the time. And he can finish as well. Maybe now that they know Bamford is out, they’re thinking right ‘let’s give him a chance’.”
