Gabriel Martinelli says team-mate Gabriel Jesus ‘one of the best strikers in the world’ ahead of his return | OneFootball

Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli is backing “one of the best strikers in the world” Gabriel Jesus to make a big impact for Mikel Arteta’s team when he finally makes his return.

Jesus has been sidelined since last season because of an ACL injury but has been involved in matchday squads of late, despite not yet making it onto the pitch.

But he has now been added to the Gunners’ Champions League squad and could return to action when his side take on Club Brugge on Wednesday.

“It’s really good,” Martinelli said on the upcoming return of his Brazilian team-mate. “I love him.

“I always say he’s one of the best strikers in the world, for me, so I’m really happy to have him back.

“Not just on the pitch but outside the pitch as well because normally when you’re injured you don’t spend as much time with the team as when you’re there so it’s really good to have him back.

“Playing with him is really good. He loves to link up as well and to move and to rotate.

“I just hope he can have some minutes in the next games and to show his talents again.

“He’s so experienced. He’s played so many games for Man City, for us, the national team.

“But he’s still young. I always say that to him. I watched him since I was, I don’t know, 13 or 14, when he was at Palmeiras in Brazil and he was about 16 playing for the first team.

“I always say to him that he looks older, for me, because I saw him when I was 13 or 14 but as I said, it’s really good to have him back and I’m really happy.”