Gabriel Martinelli has been in sensational form for Arsenal so far this season and ex-Gunners defender Mikael Silvestre believes that is because of improvement in two key areas.
The young Brazilian international has four goals and two assists to his name this term and registered one of each during his last league outing when Liverpool paid a visit to the Emirates last weekend. Martinelli bagged the man of the match award as a result of his stellar performance, having run Trent Alexander-Arnold ragged before the England international was withdrawn at half-time.
Arsenal's number 11 notched the game's opening goal inside the opening 58 seconds, sparking wild celebrations inside an Emirates Stadium that is undeniably enjoying the best atmosphere since it opened its doors 16 years ago.
While Martinelli's talent has always been evident since he first arrived in North London during Unai Emery's reign in the summer of 2019, he has often been perceived as a diamond in the rough with plenty left to work on if he is to reach his full potential.
The fact that the 21-year-old has so much time to get better is a frightening prospect for defenders, especially factoring in the high level he is already operating at. His man of the match display against Jurgen Klopp's side felt like a coming out of age performance, one that potentially alters the perception of the winger.
These kind of showings haven't come out of nowhere, not at least according to Silvestre. The Frenchman highlighted two key attributes that Martinelli has drastically improved and is now reaping the benefits from while speaking bettingexpert.
"Decision making for him," Silvestre claimed. "He is 21 so it was about gaining experience and becoming a bit more mature in his decision making. The way he is reading the game, I would say it is much better.
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"Also, I believe he is fitter and he is getting a run of games. But in the past, this was always an issue because he would get injured. Now I have my fingers crossed for him, that he will continue.
"He has an electric pace. He’s tricky and on top of that, now he is making the right choices at the right moment in the right areas of the pitch. His defending for the team is also getting better."
It is for these reasons that Arsenal are desperately trying to tie Martinelli down to a new deal, with his current contract expiring in the summer of 2024.
Recent reports have claimed that if Arsenal are going to be able to extend the Brazilian star's stay they will have to offer drastically improved wages to the £90,000 per-week he currently finds himself on.
