Gabriel Martinelli has ranked Kyle Walker as one of the toughest players he has come up against in his career.
The Manchester City right-back was named by the Arsenal winger alongside names like Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Reece James and Kieran Trippier in a video with the Champions League’s official TikTok account.
Kyle Walker is known to make life difficult for wide forwards and has done so particularly well since signing for the Sky Blues in a big-money £50 million (BBC Sport) move in 2017.
Gabriel Martinelli ranks Kyle Walker as one of his toughest opponents
The former Tottenham Hotspur colossus remains a world-class defender and a crucial part of Pep Guardiola’s side at 33 years of age.
In December, Jack Grealish admitted that he was “gutted” to see the five-time Premier League winner getting linked with an exit from City in the summer. It seems like the decorated defender is still valued as one of the most important figures in the Sky Blues’ dressing room.
In a TikTok video with the Champions League, Gabriel Martinelli ranked Kyle Walker in fourth place when naming his most challenging opponents.
Reece James finished in first place for the Brazilian international, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Kieran Trippier were ranked second and third respectively by him.
Kyle Walker has given him a tough time during their meetings
Considering Gabriel Martinelli scored the winner in the battle between Manchester City and Arsenal in October, a part of him may feel that he got the better of Kyle Walker.
But then again, the goal was a deflected strike and it emerged from just outside the box rather than by him going past the treble-winner or causing him any sort of trouble in the lead-up to the moment.
It is also important to note that this was actually Martinelli’s only goal in eight appearances against Manchester City over the years.”
A key reason behind this being the case is that the 22-year-old has struggled to give the experienced campaigner a tough time in virtually every meeting between the pair.
For instance, in both meetings in the Premier League last season, Kyle Walker kept the ex-Ituano wideman quiet, despite him being one of the division’s most in-form forwards.
As talented as Gabriel Martinelli is, it takes a specialist dribbler to ensure that the Manchester City legend has a rare off day.
