BT Sport pundit Rio Ferdinand has praised the impact that some of Arsenal’s young players have had on the club’s first team this season.

The former England international reserved special praise for Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe, as well as complimenting Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Joe Willock, but he singled out Gabriel Martinelli as the player who he believes has the most talent:

“Arsenal have really benefited from investing and believing in younger players. I think Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, they’ve been outstanding. Willock at times has come in and done stuff, same for Maitland-Niles. Without these young players coming in and holding the fort, with all that’s going on, I don’t know where Arsenal would be and the fans would be in the doldrums. Martinelli, for me, is the best one.”

Martinelli has certainly shown since his return from a knee injury that he is a player who deserves to be starting games on a regular basis for the Gunners. Manager Mikel Arteta has already stated how impressed he is with the player’s enthusiasm and energy, but he has undoubted quality on the ball as well.

It’s best not to get too far ahead of ourselves with the Brazilian but, if he continues to develop at the rate he has so far in his fledgeling career at the Emirates, he will turn out to be a very special player indeed.