In-form Gabriel Martinelli said he wants to help Arsenal win titles in the ongoing season. Martinelli also wants to be part of Brazil’s World Cup squad. The Brazilian striker scored in Arsenal’s 4-0 win over Atlético Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Martinelli has scored three goals in Europe’s prestigious club football tournament. The forward said he is aware that he needs to keep up his good form to be picked in Brazil’s squad for the quadrennial event.
“The World Cup is coming, everyone’s excited,” Martinelli told TNT Brasil after Tuesday’s game.
“It’s eight months away, but for us, it goes by so quickly, playing twice a week, and everyone wants to be prepared because we’ll need everyone. My focus is on winning titles with Arsenal and being in the World Cup.”
Martinelli was part of Brazil’s team in the 2022 Qatar World Cup, but they suffered a quarterfinal loss against Croatia on penalties. The 24-year-old said he has been working hard on his game.
“I’ve been working hard, the whole group wants to go far and win titles,” Martinelli said. “We’re giving more and more of ourselves and focusing on the smallest details.”
On the other hand, Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya recorded his fifth successive clean sheet after a 4-0 win on Tuesday.
“I give clean sheets the same credit as goals,” Raya said.
“If we’re keeping clean sheets, it’s going to make games easier to win. It’s really, really important for the whole team, not giving away that many chances and being very, very solid.
“The depth of the squad is incredible. We have a lot of players who can play in two, three or four positions.
“[Mikel] Merino came on as a striker, but he can play as a No. 6, [No.] 8, or as a No. 10, and that is the variety that the boss has and he is using it to our advantage.
“It gives us an extra level in training and in games, because if you are not at it you can lose your spot and everybody is on board with that.”
Arsenal will next take on Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
