Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli has urged his teammates to be cautious of Chelsea’s fast-emerging star Estevao Willian as both sides prepare for Sunday’s Premier League showdown at Stamford Bridge.
League leaders Arsenal head into the derby with a four-point cushion at the top and a game in hand over Manchester City.
Mikel Arteta’s men have dropped just one game in 12, boasting the division’s best defensive record as they continue their push to finally convert three consecutive runner-up finishes into a title.
Chelsea, however, arrive in equally ruthless form. The Blues have won five of their last six matches and demolished Barcelona in the Champions League midweek, with 17-year-old Estevao delivering another standout performance.
Martinelli hails Estevao but hopes he “isn’t on his day”
Estevao joined Chelsea from Palmeiras for £29 million in the summer and has rapidly justified the investment, scoring nine goals in his last 13 appearances.
His emergence has not surprised his Brazilian compatriots.
“Estevao is a nice boy… the boy is so good,” Martinelli told the Evening Standard. “Everyone in the national team loves him. He deserves everything he’s doing, I just hope he’s not on his day on Sunday.”
According to Martinelli, players within the Brazil setup were already aware of Estevao’s potential long before his move to England.
The winger’s meteoric rise has drawn comparisons to Neymar, and his early performances suggest the hype may be justified.
Chelsea teammates also impressed
Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana echoed the praise, describing Estevao as a complete attacking threat.
“He can dribble, he can score, he can pass, he can do everything,” Fofana told Stadium Astro. “He’s very young, so we need to protect him and help him improve.”
Chelsea have so far managed that transition carefully, balancing his game time with steady guidance as he adapts to Premier League demands.
Additional threats for Arsenal
Arsenal will not only be watching the teenager. Moises Caicedo, whom Arsenal tried and failed to sign from Brighton, continues to operate as the engine of Chelsea’s midfield.
Widely regarded as one of the best defensive midfielders in world football, Caicedo’s presence poses its own challenge for Arteta’s side.
Both teams enter the derby in peak form, but Arsenal will be particularly wary of one of the league’s most exciting young attackers, a teenager Martinelli knows well and respects highly, even if he hopes the Brazilian brilliance takes a day off on Sunday.
