Gabriel Martinelli is overjoyed with Aaron Ramsdale’s arrival at Arsenal. The twenty-year-old Brazilian has been heavily impressed by the goalkeeper in the past six months, who was taken away from Sheffield United last summer to the surprise of many. “Ramsdale is great on the ball, he can put the ball wherever he wants,” Martinelli said. The Athletic†
In England, the initial reaction to the recruitment of Ramsdale was with great surprise. “It is bizarre to pay 28 million euros for a keeper, if you can also strengthen yourself in other positions,” said former midfielder Don Hutchinson, for example. Ramsdale even had to turn off the comments under his Instagram posts in August, because they were filled with hate messages from Arsenal fans. “Don’t come to Arsenal, you moron”, it read, among other things, as: “We don’t want you, you will be bullied here every day.” He was also called ‘blonde inbred’.
Some of the comments that appeared on Ramsdale’s Instagram page when Arsenal signed up for him.
The hostile reception did not affect Ramsdale and public opinion soon turned, also as Arsenal started to win their games after a very difficult start to the competition. Ramsdale does not only distinguish himself with saves, but with his footballing ability is also a pivot in the build-up at Arsenal. Martinelli, who plays in the left front, also benefits from this. The Brazilian is found flawless at times by Ramsdale, who, for example, gave him a sublime long ball in the game against Manchester City (1-2 loss), allowing Martinelli to immediately seek the attack. Against Southampton (3-0 win), Ramsdale even launched his teammate directly into the enemy’s goal with a phenomenal deep pass, but Martinelli was unable to score.
this play was so good man. the ramsdale pass, the martinelli touch, an end result on the end of this would’ve been class pic.twitter.com/6iMBxApObl
— AB (@AB_18864002) January 1, 2022
The startling interplay between Ramsdale and the fast forwards of Arsenal is not a coincidence. “We train for this every day,” Martinelli says. “We know Aaron can do this and I make runs to give him options. It’s like having an extra fielder in goal.” Arsenal not only uses Ramsale’s kicking qualities, Ben White also plays an important role. The centre-back came over from Brighton & Hove Albion last summer and is known for his constructive qualities. “Ben is so confident on the ball,” Martinelli says. “He can dribble, he can throw a long ball, he does what he wants with the ball. He and Aaron are so important to us.”
Ramsdale pass into Martinelli is cash money we really got the Brexit Ederson #AFC #arsenal pic.twitter.com/IkbWQIrol9
† (@afc_shorts) February 21, 2022
Martinelli has made his big break at Arsenal this season, scoring four goals in 19 league appearances so far this season. “When I go for the goal, the easiest part actually comes,” says the South American. “You do everything you can to get that chance, so when you’re in front of the goalkeeper you just have to calm down. I’ve been working on my finish since I was a kid. I had some really good coaches at Corinthians and Ituano. One of them was Zé Sergio, who played for Sao Paulo and Brazil and had a similar style to me. He always said to me: ‘Dribbling, round well and always be yourself.’”