Gary Neville picks ‘electric’ Arsenal strikers in Team of the Year – but not Harry Kane
The Sky Sports pundit opted to drop Kane after picking Erling Haaland as his best striker, pitting Arsenal’s duo of Marcus Rashford and Mohamed Salah to complete his squad.
Despite the Gunners’ failure to convert their lead into title glory, Neville was impressed with the performance of Saka and Martinelli for the vast majority of the campaign.
“Saka and Martinelli – until the last few weeks – have absolutely lit up this league,” he told Monday Night Football.
“I think they were spectacular, they were electric, some of the best plays I’ve seen all season have come from those two with Gabriel Jesus up front and Martin Odegaard behind.
“I haven’t liked what I’ve seen from Arsenal in the last four-five weeks, it’s been really, really poor. Let’s be clear.
“Those two players suffered, as I thought, from not having the right experienced players around them. But for 30 games they were magic.
“They were on a different level, I believe, than for example Rashford or Salah. Kane is a striker, he’s in a different position. Rashford and Salah have big numbers but [Saka and Martinelli] were spectacular and electric.
“They lit up my season. The way they lined up is something I will remember as a real highlight of this season.
Arsenal players William Saliba and Martin Odegaard have also been in Neville’s squad, alongside Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier, Ruben Dias, Pervis Estupinan, Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne.
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