Rob Holding says Gabriel Martinelli is a nightmare for defenders, as the Brazilian prepares for a likely third start for the club on Thursday.

Speaking ahead of the home clash against Vitoria, Rob Holding discussed Arsenal’s teenage summer signing in a press conference.

Martinelli has really impressed in both of his starts for the club so far, scoring four goals and assisting one so far, and Holding suggests that’s not a surprise.

“He never stops running, as a centre-half, it’s a nightmare,” Holding said. “You want someone who’ll give up but he never does that. Some of the headed goals he has scored in the games against Nottingham Forest and Standard Liege have been really good.”

If you’ve got intelligent movement, a top work rate and a strong aerial presence, you really are going to be a handful for defenders.

It gives the players around you so many options. They can play crosses or long balls, feed through balls in behind, utilise your hold up play with the ball on the floor or capitalise on opposition mistakes, knowing you’ll be ready for the chance in each case.

With that said, it’s still very early days for Martinelli. In his 45 minutes of Premier League football so far he hasn’t had quite the same impact, so for now, he’s only proved himself against lesser opponents.

As he continues adapting to English football, we all hope that will change, and he’ll start having an impact and changing games for Arsenal in the big matches. Emi Martinez is helping the player with his adaptation period, according to Holding.

“He’s really close with Emiliano Martinez, he (Martinez) translates for him (Martinelli) when he’s picking up English. He’s making an effort which is important.”

The benefit of moving to England at such a young age is that Martinelli still has many years to settle in. If it takes him another three or four seasons to fully adapt he’ll still have the next decade after that to shine. By the looks of things, it won’t take that long.