Martinelli risks angering Porto with 'lesser team' dig before Arsenal rematch
Gabriel Martinelli has upped the ante ahead of Arsenal's Champions League second-leg clash with Porto next Tuesday.
The Gunners trail after losing the first-leg 1-0 via a 94th minute Galeno wonder goal. Mikel Arteta's men were widely viewed as favourites to progress to the last eight, but will need to be at their best to break down the Portuguese giants at the Emirates next week, though the attacking form they've enjoyed in recent weeks has shown they are more than up to the task.
Martinelli certainly seems to think so, with the Brazilian admitting the Gunners are confident they can reach the quarter-final despite having to overturn the one-goal deficit. He made that clear while talking up his side's chances of progression.
Pressed for comment on what Arsenal need to do to advance to the last eight for the first time since 2010, Martinelli told TNT Brazil: "We have to minimize the mistakes and score the goals we need.
"We are confident. We know the potential of our team. We are going to play at home and we are going to go all out to win the game.
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"Sometimes you don't lose Championships in big games, but in the game against lesser teams. I think you have to take every game seriously and be very focused, because every game is important."
Porto boss Sergio Conceicao's team-talk may already be sorted, Martinelli's 'lesser team' remark has all the makings of the kind of quip that is stuck on the dressing room wall. Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta did issue a similarly confident declaration in the aftermath of the first-leg defeat last month.
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Gabriel Martinelli has made clear what Arsenal need to do to progress past Porto (Getty Images)"We will learn from it. Now it is clear, it is half-time," said the Spaniard. "If you want to be in the quarter-finals you have to beat your opponent and that will be the purpose and the plan."
With all that being said, Arsenal have another fixture between now and their reunion with Porto. The Gunners welcome Brentford to the Emirates on Saturday night knowing a win would send them top before title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City face each other at Anfield.
Arteta's side got the better of the Bees at the tail-end of the year thanks to a last-gasp Kai Havertz goal. The Gunners will be out to record a more convincing win this time around and continue their fine form in front of goal.
Whether Martinelli features in either, however, remains to be seen. The 22-year-old limped out of action during Monday night's 6-0 battering of Sheffield United after bagging the Gunners' third goal of the game.
Arteta discussed the Brazilian's fitness ahead of Saturday's showdown, telling reporters: "We have some players back last Monday, then we have Martinelli and Bukayo [Saka] with little issues but we are pretty positive they will be part of that [team], We have to wait and see how they do tomorrow."
Martinelli's goal contributions have dwindled in comparison to last term, with the ex-Ituano ace boasting six strikes this campaign. He'll need another nine league goals between now and then end of the season to equal his tally from last term.
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