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Martinelli reveals Arsenal blocked Brazil U-23 call-up

The winger was left disappointed after the Gunners decided to keep him out of a pre-Olympic tournament

Gabriel Martinelli says that Arsenal blocked a call-up to Brazil's Under-23 squad despite the attacker's desire to represent his country.

The teenage star has been fantastic for Arsenal this season, having reached double-digits across all competitions since his move to the Premier League.

Indeed, Martinelli's goalscoring exploits have made him the first Arsenal teenager since Nicolas Anelka in the 1998-1999 season to score 10 goals in a season.

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As a result, he has earned interest from his national team program, with the teenager being eyed for a spot with Brazil's U-23s ahead of this summer's Olympic tournament.