"A joke" - Pundit is absolutely furious after Arsenal player receives World Cup call-up

The news that Arsenal star Gabriel Martinelli had received a Brazil World Cup call-up was met with delight by many fans - but one Brazilian pundit wasn't quite so impressed.

Martinelli has been superb for the Gunners this season, starting every Premier League game and netting on five occasions.

The 21-year-old joined Arsenal when he was 18, and arrived at the Emirates as a young player renowned for his composed finishing and direct running.

He has added even more to his game since then, and has established himself as a key player for the Gunners.

That has culminated in a well-deserved call-up to the Brazil squad for Qatar 2022.

And whilst this won't be his first taste of senior international football - he has three caps to his name, and helped Brazil to win gold in last year's Olympic Games - it will be his first appearance at a World Cup, should he be given the opportunity to play.

He will be competing with the likes of Neymar and Vinicius Junior for a spot on the left flank, but Martinelli can play across the front three, meaning he will certainly be in contention for Tite's side.

Reacting to the news of his call-up, however, one Brazilian pundit stated his belief - in no uncertain terms - that he shouldn't be going to Qatar.

Brazilian pundit slams Martinelli decision

The call to select Martinelli in Brazil's World Cup squad was slammed by ex-Selecao attacking midfielder Neto.

The 56-year-old received 16 caps for the national team during his own playing career, scoring an impressive seven goals. At club level, he spent the majority of his career at Brazilian giants Corinthians, scoring 120 goals in 227 appearances between 1989 and 1993.

Speaking to Os Donos da Bola (quotes via ESPN), Neto picked out former Inter Milan striker Gabriel Barbosa, commonly referred to as 'Gabigol', as the player that he thinks should have gone to Qatar instead of Martinelli - and certainly made his feelings on the Arsenal star known.

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He said: "This is a shame. A joke! I feel ashamed! Not because of Dani Alves' story. What is Martinelli's story? 33 career goals.

"This is a shame, a lack of respect for football. Doing this with football shows that you don't deserve the position you are in.

"Calling up Martinelli and not calling up Gabigol is heresy, a lack of respect. The biggest shame of all the call-ups.

"Calling up Martinelli shows that you, Tite, shouldn't hold the position you do, because you're not fair to Gabigol.

"The guy [Martinelli], who scores five goals in the season, who walks around the mall here, nobody knows who he is... and not taking Gabigol, the guy who scored the goal of the Libertadores title, who scored 29 goals in the season."

Whilst Neto may have a point regarding Gabigol's exclusion - he has 29 goals in all competitions, as per Football Database, and scored the winning goal for Flamengo in the Copa Libertadores final - his thoughts towards Martinelli are certainly questionable.

The Gunners star has been a key cog in the side that tops the Premier League after 13 games, with his all-around play - rather than just his goalscoring numbers - praised by pundits and fans alike.

The 21-year-old will hope to prove Neto wrong in Qatar by helping his country to World Cup success.