Wright’s Public Critique
Arsenal legend Ian Wright took to Sky Sports on Friday night to voice his discontent with the club’s handling of winger Gabriel Martinelli. Wright said the 25-year-old, who has scored 62 goals in 278 appearances for the Gunners, should be given a chance to compete for a starting spot. He added that Martinelli “always gives 100 per cent” and has delivered “big moments” for Arsenal, yet feels “uncomfortable” with how the club is treating him as his contract nears its end.
Wright highlighted that Martinelli was omitted from the squad that beat newly-promoted Coventry City 3-0 on the opening night of the Premier League season. He also noted that Martinelli was left out of the Community Shield final squad, a decision that left the player “not being spoken to” and “not knowing what’s going on.”
Martinelli’s Current Status
Martinelli, who joined Arsenal in 2019 from Ituano, has been a regular for the club. Last season he registered 11 goals and seven assists across all competitions, and he scored 15 league goals in 2022-23. Despite this output, he has only started 11 of his 30 Premier League appearances, with manager Mikel Arteta favouring Eberechi Eze and Leandro Trossard on the left wing.
The winger’s future is uncertain. He is valued at around £50 million but is only willing to consider offers from the strongest leagues. Galatasaray reportedly made a £38 million bid, and Roma have also shown interest, yet Martinelli has expressed a desire to stay in a top-flight competition.
Arsenal’s Squad Dynamics
Arteta has repeatedly stated that the trio of Martinelli, Ethan Nwaneri and Gabriel Jesus are “important” to the team, yet Martinelli’s role has been marginalised since the club’s £34 million acquisition of Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge. The departure of Leandro Trossard to Besiktas has left a gap on the left, but Arteta’s preference for other players has left Martinelli “not being involved” in the squad.
In a recent interview, Arteta said the club is “actively looking to improve the squad” and that “there are very few players in the market that are available to bring more quality.” He added that the club’s ambition is unquestionable but that the market conditions limit what can be achieved.
Transfer Speculation
While Martinelli’s contract has a year left, the player’s willingness to stay in a top league has led to speculation. Galatasaray’s £38 million offer was rejected, and Roma’s interest remains unconfirmed. Despite the interest, Martinelli has not yet confirmed a move and has expressed a desire to remain in the Premier League.
Martinelli’s future will likely hinge on whether Arsenal can provide a clear pathway for him to compete for a starting role or whether he will seek a move to a club that can offer him a prominent place in a top competition.
Current Squad Performance
Arsenal opened their title defence with a dominant 3-0 win over Coventry City, with goals from Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard. The match highlighted the squad’s depth but also underscored the exclusion of Martinelli from the lineup.
Martinelli has played 278 times for Arsenal, scoring 62 goals, and his future remains a point of discussion among fans and pundits alike.
