Arsenal loan winger makes encouraging start with new club | OneFootball

Arsenal deals & transfers January 2025

Marquinhos has made an encouraging start with Cruzeiro, playing at least 45 minutes in each of their three fixtures since his arrival.

Photo via Marquinhos on Instagram

Loan spells can often be defined by what happens early on, with players who take a long time to break into the side sometimes struggling even when they do make some appearances.

The pressure obviously increases with each game a player is excluded, and other players get chances to impress and hold down the spot.

We’ve seen it with Raheem Sterling at Arsenal this season, who hasn’t got the minutes he would have wanted and hasn’t shone on the rare occasions he’s been picked.

So it’s encouraging to see Marquinhos appearing in each of Cruzeiro’s three competitive fixtures so far in 2025, despite the trio of games taking place in quick succession.

Photo via Marquinhos on Instagram

Cruzeiro’s games are coming thick and fast, and they played Tombense last Sunday before a midweek fixture against Athletic on Wednesday and another game against Betim Futebol on Saturday.

Marquinhos started the first two, before being dropped to the bench for the third. But after 45 minutes, with Cruzeiro 1-0 down, the winger was introduced at the break to try and turn things around. The match finished 1-1.

The winger is yet to get on the scoresheet, but he leads the entire Campeonato Mineiro for successful dribbles – with 19 in just 207 minutes.

Photo via Marquinhos on Instagram

The games are going to keep coming in the next few weeks, with more matches on Thursday and Sunday this week. On the evidence so far, it looks like Marquinhos will be playing a significant role in those games.