Gabriel Martinelli has scored six goals across his last six Premier League games (Picture: Getty)

Gabriel Martinelli has named the Arsenal star he ‘loves’ playing with after the Gunners beat Crystal Palace 4-1 at the Emirates on Sunday.

Martinelli scored his sixth goal in his last six Premier League games to help Mikel Arteta’s side open up an eight-point gap over second-placed Manchester City.

The victory over Palace means Arsenal have earned their 22nd Premier League win of the season – as many as they managed in the whole of last term – and the Gunners’ most ever wins in their first 28 matches of a league campaign.

The north London club are in a great position to lift their first Premier League title since 2004 and speaking to Sky Sports after Sunday’s win, Martinelli lauded team-mate Bukayo Saka, who provided the assist for his goal.

Saka got on the scoresheet twice himself to become the first Arsenal player in double figures for both goals and assists in a Premier League season since Alexis Sanchez in 2016-17.

‘It was a good pass from B (Bukayo Saka) – I don’t know if he was trying to play it to me or someone else!’ Martinelli said. ‘But it was a good pass.’

Quizzed about how much he loved playing with Saka, Martinelli added: ‘A lot! He is a great guy, not just him but the whole team, we are a family.

13 – Bukayo Saka has scored 13 goals in all competitions this season, with 12 of those coming in the Premier League – both are now the highest totals in a single campaign in his career. Climbing. pic.twitter.com/UmdhIGJgwo

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 19, 2023

‘Bukayo has been playing so well. He’s a brilliant player and I just love to play with him.’

Martinelli also spoke about missing a penalty on Thursday as Arsenal crashed out of the Europa League in a shock defeat to Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon.

‘It is life,’ the Brazil international said. ‘Not every game you are going to score and play well.

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‘Of course I was sad and spent the whole night thinking about that penalty but it is over.

‘I scored a goal today and we got the three points, the most important thing.’

Arsenal’s win over Palace also means they are the first side in English Football League history to win as many as nine London derbies in a single league season.

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‘He’s a brilliant player!’