If kings were immortal beings, succession would never be a topic meriting discussion. Despite the attempts by kings, since time immemorial, to stretch their mortality—some bordering on lunacy, such as the construction of mammoth pyramids by the pharaohs of ancient Egypt—every king reaches a time and the curtain falls on their tenure. This, inevitably, calls for a new king to assume the reins.
In some instances, however, the shoes of their predecessor turn out too big for the new king to fill, even a long legion of successors. It is no mean feat succeeding a legendary king. This has been the reality at Arsenal football club since the departure of Thierry Henry—King Henry, if you will.
A long line of suitors have staked their claim to the throne at the Emirates. Jose Antonio Reyes (RIP), Theo Walcott, Robin Van Persie, Mesut Ozil, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, have been among the notable names flirting with the throne departed by King Henry. Despite being highly talented, none of these individuals have scaled even close to the mercurial heights of Thierry Henry at Arsenal.
What sets King Henry apart from his long line of wannabe successors? Thierry Henry was Arsenal, and Arsenal was Thierry Henry. Period. If someone mentioned “Henry’s team”, only one interpretation would suffice—you would be a retard to think the reference was to the French national team. Henry was the unequivocal Mr. Arsenal.
This is not to suggest that Arsenal was a one-man team in Henry’s era. In fact, Henry had at his disposal an invincible (pun intended) supporting cast in Pires, Vieira, Ljungberg, and Bergkamp. But Henry was unique in one way: Henry personified Arsenal. The whole team played for Henry, and Henry played for the whole team. Despite not being team captain until the last days of his Arsenal career, Henry’s charisma was only matched by his performance on the pitch. Henry was the fuel that propelled the team.
The long impatient wait for another Henry among the Arsenal faithful has led many to believe that no another player will scale similar heights at Arsenal. Considering the loud hype invariably followed by underwhelming performances that has characterised all the mooted successors to King Henry’s throne, this pessimism can be forgiven.
The wait could be over.
Forget all the wannabes! The rightful heir to King Henry’s throne is an 18-year old Brazilian prodigy. Despite being overshadowed by the marque signing of Nicholas Pepe during the 2019 summer, Gabriel Martinelli’s transfer from Brazilian side Ituano has turned out to be the shrewdest piece of transfer business Arsenal have pulled off in recent times. For a measly £6m, pocket change in today’s transfer figures, Arsenal acquired a player that Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp would christen “the talent of the century”.
The only parallel between Henry and Martinelli is not just that both play in winger-cum-centre- forward role. Like his predecessor, Martinelli is gifted with one innate character that separates great players from the chasing pack—passion, hunger, attitude, chutzpah, call it what you may. In praise of Martinelli’s desire to chase down every lost ball, interim Arsenal head-coach, Freddie Ljungberg, befittingly compared him to a Duracell battery.
Assuming a normal development curve, Martinelli even rates higher than Henry. Let’s not forget that despite joining Arsenal as a 22-year old world cup winner, Henry initially struggled to find his footing, in the English game. Contrast this with the samba boy’s electric start to life at the Emirates, highlighted by seven goals in the first seven games. It is not an exaggeration to assert that, at 18-years, Henry would understudy Martinelli had they been age mates and played in the same team.
Will Martinelli live up to his billing? Will he succeed where so many next-Henrys have failed? The jury is still out, but I have already passed my verdict: Martinelli is the next king at the Emirates.
Arsenal Zealot 