BT Sport pundit Owen Hargreaves firmly believes Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli has the potential to go all the way to the top.

The Brazilian has not always been selected in recent months by manager Mikel Arteta but, after witnessing his display against Newcastle at the weekend, Hargreaves has no doubts about the teenager’s ability:

“I think there is a huge talent in there and for Arsenal fans, and you think about with Saka and Smith Rowe, they have a fabulous player, who I think has the potential to become one of the best players in the Premier League. But he has to stay fit. But he’s a special player.”

It will be interesting to see whether Martinelli’s performance at St James’ Park will put him in the frame for starting the second leg of the Europa League semi-final against Villarreal tomorrow.

Arteta has not started the 19-year-old in a European match so far this campaign, and it appears there are a number of players ahead of him in the pecking order.

Following his goal against Newcastle, captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is expected to start versus Villarreal, while the form of Nicolas Pepe, Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka means Martinelli has a job on his hands to get a starting spot on the wings.

Even if he doesn’t make the eleven tomorrow evening, though, the Brazilian’s recent form suggests he could well make a big impact from the bench.