Jack Wilshere has heaped praise on Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta for his ‘genius’ management of Gabriel Martinelli, whom he believes will go on to become a ‘top’ player for the club.

Martinelli, 20, showed plenty of promise at the Emirates before picking up a serious knee injury in June 2020, which kept him out of action for over six months.

After returning from his lengthy spell on the sidelines, the Brazilian failed to work his way back into Arteta’s starting plans for a long period of time, but in December he was finally brought back into the side.

Restoring him proved a masterstroke on Arteta’s part, as he quickly repaid the manager’s faith by registering six goals and two assists in seven games.

Wilshere certainly knows a thing or two about emerging from Arsenal’s academy to become a first-team star, and after returning to train with his former side in recent months he has become a huge admirer of Martinelli while working with him up close.

‘The obvious ones, who everyone knows about are Bukayo [Saka] and Emile [Smith Rowe],’ the 30-year-old told Arsenal Media. ‘I think you’ve just got to look at the level that they are setting.

‘The consistency that they’re putting in every week, their performances and they’ve got a manager as well who trusts them and I think if you’re a young player at Arsenal coming through the academy now, you should look at that and think, “Well, if I’m good enough, I’m going to get a chance, no matter how old I am.”

‘Yes, you’ve got to work hard and prove yourself, but with a manager who believes in youth and wants to build a young, hungry team, so they’ve all got a chance.

‘I mentioned before their consistency levels which is sometimes rare for a young player, a lot of time you see a young player come in, have a good game, three or four good games, maybe one or two bad games, but with Emile and Saka, it seems to be they’re doing it week in, week out, they’re making the right decisions all the time.

‘But the one who I really like and think he’s going to be top, is Martinelli. I think what the manager has done with him has been genius as well.

‘When I first went there he was training, coming on, not playing much, but training really well and I was thinking, “He’s going to get a chance here” and he eventually got his chance and he’s been brilliant.

‘He was the Player of the Month and he’s been brilliant and he trains like that every day as well.’