Rio Ferdinand agrees with Jurgen Klopp over ‘special’ Arsenal talent that excites Mikel Arteta

Rio Ferdinand agrees with Jurgen Klopp over Arsenal talent Gabriel Martinelli.

Martinelli is being tipped to become one of the world’s best some time in the future having already established an impressive trajectory during his young career so far. The Brazilian has already become a key part of Mikel Arteta’s plans, scoring 25 goals and assisting 12 in 93 Premier League appearances so far, and he is still only 22 years of age.

After an impressive season of last, with Martinelli operating on one side of a dangerous front three - with Bukayo Saka on the other - excitement is already building around the young Brazilian for the new season.

And pundit Ferdinand is buying the hype, telling the SDS YouTube channel: “I love Martinelli, I think Martinelli could end up world-class. I think he’s a huge talent. I spoke to Arteta when he first got in a team and they played Bournemouth away. I said to him after the game: ‘What’s this kid like?’

“He said: ‘Rio, (he’s) special!’”

The comments come after Liverpool boss Klopp raved about Martinelli’s talent earlier this year.

“Martinelli’s pretty much the same age but he’s a talent of the century, he’s an incredible striker, so it’s really difficult,” Klopp said in February. “He’s really unbelievable,” he added. “So young, looks so mature already, is a proper threat. Yeah, he looks like a really decent player.

“I didn’t want to put any backpack [pressure] on his back with this thing but I just really like good football players and obviously he’s a very good one.”

Martinelli will be an amost guaranteed starter again for Arsenal this coming season, with Saka the go-to man on the other wing. The pair will be responsible for leading the Gunners’ attacks from the wing, with Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz the likely options for the striker role.