Arsenal manager Unai Emery was full of praise for Gabriel Martinelli after his performance against Nottingham Forest.
The youngster was one of several fringe players who got a chance in the Carabao Cup game, which Arsenal won 5-0.
And Martinelli was singled out for praise by Emery in his post-match comments to the club's official website.
Emery said: "Martinelli is a very young player. But he came here and we were waiting and watching him, how he could improve with us and really, really in the pre-season he played very well.
"He was working in each training with a big spirit and with a big performance and I spoke with him to have some passion for when he gets his opportunity to play, to do like he was doing in the training and the matches in the pre-season. Tonight he did that.
"Really, he deserved it because he is very humble, a humble player and he fights, he is hungry to have that opportunity to help us and really it was perfect, his work tonight."
