Liverpool forward Luis Diaz is a bigger guarantee of goals than Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli.
That’s according to TalkSPORT pundit Ray Parlour. Asked to name his combined Liverpool and Arsenal XI, Parlour opted for Diaz over Martinelli.
Attempting to justify his selection, the former Arsenal midfielder claimed that the Liverpool man will score more goals than Martinelli.
“Wide areas, Martinelli’s been brilliant this year for Arsenal but I’m going to go Diaz,” he said. “I think he’ll score you a few more goals. I think it’s very close, but I’ve gone with Diaz.”
Diaz backs up Parlour claim
Judging from the small sample size available so far this season, this is a good shout from Parlour. Although Martinelli has been regularly lauded, he actually has the same number of Premier League goals as Diaz – three.
But throw in the Liverpool winger’s lovely consolation goal against Napoli, and Diaz edges ahead.
This is also backed up from last season. It must be taken into account that Martinelli is still a young player learning his trade, but last season he scored just six goals to Diaz’s 22.
Yes, 14 of the Colombian’s strikes came in the Portuguese league. But he also scored four Premier League goals in 13 games. Martinelli managed just two more from 29.
Diaz is also already a proven quantity in the Champions League, where he’s managed eight goals in 27 games. The Arsenal man is still yet to feature in Europe’s top competition in his young career.
That isn’t to say that Martinelli won’t match or even better Diaz in the future. The 21-year-old Brazilian is already a full international and is setting defences on fire this campaign.
His battle against Trent Alexander-Arnold tomorrow afternoon could be where the game is won or lost for either side.
But we’re with Parlour here. Diaz is still a step or two ahead of him.
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