The Arsenal star is believed to have the potential to win the Ballon d'Or

Dembele's Ballon d'Or triumph has deeply motivated Arsenal supporters to think that Gabriel Martinelli can completely bounce back and achieve comparable success.

Ousmane Dembele's 2025 Ballon d'Or win has created a ripple effect throughout European football, and Arsenal fans are no exception, finding inspiration for their own team. In this year's Ballon d'Or shortlist, Arsenal only has Declan Rice (ranked 27th) and Viktor Gyokeres (ranked 15th) included.

Although no Arsenal player has ever won the Ballon d'Or, confidence is growing that this could change, with Gabriel Martinelli being the most frequently mentioned name currently.

Arsenal supporters have put their trust in Martinelli: “If you are waiting in line for Martinelli to win the Ballon d'Or, just keep standing in that queue”

Notably, many voices suggest that coach Mikel Arteta should experiment with Martinelli as a central striker instead of confining him to the left wing. The comparison is made with Dembele himself, who was “pulled inside” by Luis Enrique at PSG, leading to a remarkable revival.

“Arteta, do you see? Dembele changed position and won the Ballon d'Or. Let Martinelli try playing as a number 9”, commented one fan.

Another fan believes Martinelli should draw inspiration from Dembele’s strong comeback.

“Dembele’s journey, reaching this level at 28 after initially declining from a prodigy, surely serves as motivation for players like Martinelli. A career isn’t always smooth.”

After just five matches this season, Martinelli has experienced highs, disappointments, and some dull moments. Once considered to have “stalled” at 24, the Brazilian player unexpectedly became the center of discussion after fans witnessed Dembele, a star once discarded by Barcelona, suddenly revive and ascend to glory at 28.

Dembele went through a tough period at PSG in the 2023/24 season, scoring only 3 goals in Ligue 1, before exploding in the next season with 35 goals and 16 assists. This transformation proves that a football career is never linear. This fact has opened new hope for those once doubted, including Martinelli.

For Arsenal, Martinelli is a highly talented player. What he needs now is Arteta’s trust and a suitable system to maximize his abilities. If he regains form, the Brazilian star could follow in Dembele’s footsteps, turning doubt into motivation and making the Ballon d'Or a realistic future goal.