GABRIEL MARTINELLI and Ollie Watkins put the Saudi Pro League on notice with an incredible partnership that led to a dominant victory for Al-Hilal.
Watkins, 30, and Martinelli, 25, joined the Saudi giants this past summer following a £51million deal with Aston Villa and a £60m agreement with Arsenal respectively.
The forwards teamed up with fellow Pro League mega-signings Yassine Bounou, Kalidou Koulibaly, Ruben Neves, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Crysencio Summerville at Al-Taawoun.
And the former Premier League duo led Simone Inzaghi’s side to a commanding 6-0 victory at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium.
Martinelli scored his second ever hat-trick, eight months after leading Arsenal to a 4-1 win at Portsmouth in the FA Cup.
And Watkins netted his first brace since his move to Saudi Arabia last month and added two assists.
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Sultan Mandash completed the visitors’ triumph that fired them to the top of the Saudi Pro League table.
Al-Hilal are now one point ahead of second-placed Al-Ittihad and two ahead of third-placed and fourth-placed Al-Nassr and Al-Qadsiah respectively.
Watkins now counts a total of three goals and two assists in four appearances with his new team.
Martinelli, on the other hand, counts three goals in as many appearances with Inzaghi and co.
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Villa have struggled since Watkins left as they are winless in their first four Premier League matches, of which they lost three.
Martinelli’s former club Arsenal, though, have made a flying start to their own season as they bid to win their first back-to-back Prem titles.
The Gunners have won all five of their matches across all competitions.