The Liverpool manager was bowled over by Martinelli when he first cast his eye over Arsenal’s attacking recruit. Having observed the then-teenager in action, Klopp called him the ‘talent of the century’, adding: “He’s really unbelievable.
“So young, he looks so mature already, he is a proper threat. Yeah, he looks like a really decent player. I didn’t want to put any pressure on his back with this thing but I just really like good football players and obviously he’s a very good one.”
There were no signs of electric talent on show against Porto, however, as Martinelli and the rest of Arsenal’s attackers failed to register a single shot on target in a last-minute 1-0 defeat.
While on punditry duties for Virgin Media Sport; former Everton, Manchester City, Aston Villa and Queens Park Rangers centre-back Dunne singled out Martinelli and fellow Gunners star Kai Havertz for stinging criticism.
“Martinelli looked scared,” he said. “He’d get past one player and then dangle a toe in and that would be him away from it. Kai Havertz was pulling out of 50-50s, they looked weak mentally up front, that front-five.”
Martinelli has only scored in two of Arsenal’s last 12 games, with his underwhelming run stretching back to early December. On the opposite flank, Bukayo Saka has already racked up more than twice as many goals as the 22-year-old across all competitions.
But even Arsenal’s star boy couldn’t guide them to victory at Estadio do Dragao, with Galeno’s stoppage-time stunner leaving the Gunners with a one-goal deficit to claw back heading into the second leg.
Arteta didn’t shy away from the fact his team were found lacking at both ends of the pitch, telling TNT Sports: “We have to manage much better. We cannot win with the way we handled the ball on three occasions in deep areas.
“If you want to be in the quarter-finals you have to beat your opponent and this is what we will have to do at the Emirates now. We lacked threat. We lacked aggression, especially with the ball in the final third. We can do better.”
