Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli has revealed he told his family he was convinced he would score for Brazil before coming off the bench to net the World Cup winner that sent his country into the last 16.
The 25-year-old emerged as Brazil’s hero with the decisive goal of the knockout tie. Afterwards, he explained that he had already predicted another opportunity would come after previously hitting the woodwork earlier in the tournament.
Speaking to Globo after the match, Martinelli admitted he had shared that confidence with those closest to him.
“I was telling my family the other day that I’d hit the post. I knew I was going to get another opportunity. Thank God, today I managed to score the goal that secured qualification.
“I’m very happy with the performance from the whole team, who gave absolutely everything throughout the match. I’m speechless.”
The strike was Martinelli’s fifth goal in 26 appearances for Brazil and easily his most important in national team colours so far.
The Arsenal attacker has enjoyed an increasingly prominent role under Carlo Ancelotti during the World Cup.
Earlier in the tournament, he admitted he prefers playing on the left wing but stressed he would happily feature anywhere the manager asked, even joking he would play at right-back if required.
Dream moment finally arrives
Gabriel Martinelli could barely contain his emotions after helping Brazil progress to the next round.
“I don’t even have the words to describe the happiness in my heart right now, seeing all the Brazilian people happy because we’ve qualified.
“My family, my wife, my mother, my father, my friends… I can’t even explain what I’m witnessing now. I think it will only really sink in after some time.”
The goal will also be welcomed at Arsenal ahead of the new season.
Food for thought for Arteta
Carlo Ancelotti
Gabriel Martinelli’s versatility has already been a talking point during the tournament. However, Carlo Ancelotti has gone even further when discussing the Arsenal player.
Rather than seeing Martinelli purely as a winger, the Brazil manager believes he has the attributes to develop into a modern No.8.
“When people talk about Martinelli, they immediately think of a winger because of his pace and ability to beat defenders. But football has changed. The modern No.8 isn’t just a passer – he has to press, cover ground, attack the box and make intelligent runs without the ball.”
Ancelotti believes the Arsenal attacker already possesses many of those qualities.
“He has an exceptional work rate, he’s aggressive in the press and never hides from responsibility.”
The Italian even suggested Martinelli could thrive in the role if the right structure was built around him.
“If you build the right structure around him, I believe he could adapt to that role. He has the energy to play between both boxes, the courage to carry the ball through midfield and the instinct to arrive in dangerous areas at the right moment.”
“It would take time because the positioning is different, but great players learn quickly. Sometimes a player surprises you most when you move him away from the position everybody associates him with.”
“I wouldn’t be afraid to experiment with Martinelli as an attacking No.8 in certain matches because I think he has the intelligence and personality to make it work.”
With competition for places fierce at both club and international level, moments like this could prove significant. Moreover, Martinelli has insisted he is ready to contribute wherever he is needed. His latest appearance showed exactly why both Ancelotti and Arteta continue to place their trust in him.