{"id":264158,"date":"2026-09-24T06:15:11","date_gmt":"2026-09-24T06:15:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/24\/why-arsenal-must-give-64m-star-the-gabriel-martinelli-treatment\/"},"modified":"2026-09-24T06:15:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T06:15:11","slug":"why-arsenal-must-give-64m-star-the-gabriel-martinelli-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/24\/why-arsenal-must-give-64m-star-the-gabriel-martinelli-treatment\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Arsenal must give \u00a364m star the Gabriel Martinelli treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Under Mikel Arteta’s stewardship, Arsenal<\/a> have recruited excellently, but when it comes to generating income, it has not been plain sailing.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Indeed, for years, the Gunners have struggled to sell players, particularly in comparison to some of their rivals.<\/p>\n

Over the summer, Manchester City sold Savio for \u00a385m<\/a> while Tijjani Reijnders left in a \u00a352m deal. At Chelsea, Enzo Fernandez left for \u00a3125m while big sums were also generated from the sales of Andrey Santos, Nicolas Jackson and Marc Cucurella.<\/p>\n

They even generated \u00a350m from Liam Delap<\/a>. Work that one out. For Arsenal, it took them nine years to sell a player for a bigger fee than when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain left for around \u00a335m.<\/p>\n

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\n \n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

That player was, of course, Gabriel Martinelli<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n Why Arsenal may regret selling Gabriel Martinelli<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

Selling Martinelli this summer was not a bad idea. The fact is that as Arsenal won a first Premier League<\/a> crown in 22 years, their left-hand side was not as fluid, not as dangerous as other areas on the pitch.<\/p>\n

Prior to heading to Besiktas, Leandro Trossard had scored just one club goal in 2026, while Martinelli only actually netted once in the league throughout the entirety of 2025\/26.<\/p>\n

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\n \"martinelli\"\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

That said, when the idea was floated of revamping the left-hand side of the pitch it came with a promise that Arsenal would upgrade.<\/p>\n

Well, they have sold both of their options on that flank and only replaced them with one player: Christos Tzolis.<\/p>\n

The Greek has caught the eye in the opening stages of his Arsenal career but with Eberechi Eze failing to find form, it looks like Arsenal may well regret offloading Martinelli so late into the window when a replacement was not forthcoming.<\/p>\n

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\n \"Arsenal\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

That regret may have been exacerbated by their 3-0 defeat to Brighton last Saturday afternoon. While the defence came under scrutiny for their performance, Arsenal lacked any sort of pace in transition and on the counter-attack.<\/p>\n

Martinelli struggled for end product but if there is one thing he could always guarantee, it was speed. He was perhaps Arsenal’s best player in that scenario. Not replacing that looks like an error.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n Why Arteta’s treatment of Martinelli was harsh<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

Arsenal tried incredibly hard to sign another left-sided forward alongside Tzolis in the summer. Morgan Rogers was the top target but Chelsea trumped their London rivals to him, paying a whopping \u00a3117m.<\/p>\n

Vinicius Junior was also explored and for a period of a week or so, it looked like he may genuinely head to the Emirates Stadium. He ultimately ended up staying at Real Madrid.<\/p>\n

Yet, with no alternatives lined up, Arteta took the decision to alienate Martinelli from the first-team picture.<\/p>\n

He appeared in pre-season but was absent from the squad for the Community Shield against Manchester City. That was telling. He didn’t even receive a medal.<\/p>\n

The writing was then really on the wall when he wasn’t included in the squad for their first two league matches of the campaign versus Coventry City and Aston Villa.<\/p>\n

The treatment was strange. While Arsenal were about to receive a big fee for his services, this is a player who had been a key part of the team in recent years. He was vital to the project, playing 278 times for the Gunners.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Martinelli by season at Arsenal<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

\n

Season<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Goals<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Assists<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2019\/20<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

10<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2020\/21<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2021\/22<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

6<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

6<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2022\/23<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

15<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

6<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2023\/24<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

8<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2024\/25<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

10<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2025\/26<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

11<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n

He was never a player who complained; his attitude was top-notch and he was an extremely likeable character. To see him cast aside without so much as a goodbye was a brutal decision. Then again, Arsenal haven’t got to this position without making calls like that. Just ask Aaron Ramsdale.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n How Arsenal can repeat their Martinelli sale<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

It was clear the Brazilian was not entirely keen on the idea of leaving the Emirates Stadium this summer, particularly for a side not in one of Europe’s top five leagues.<\/p>\n

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\n<\/article>\n<\/section>\n

As a result, Arteta needed to take more drastic measures; he needed to force him out. In the end it worked, but only time will tell whether it was the right decision to get rid.<\/p>\n

Traditionally, the manager has axed players at just the right time. The decision to banish Oleksandr Zinchenko and replace him with Riccardo Calafiori has been a masterstroke, as has the decision to replace Ramsdale with David Raya.<\/p>\n

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\n
\"Gabriel-Martinelli-Arsenal\"\n <\/picture>Action Images via Reuters\/Paul Childs<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Well, the next part of his project must be to ditch Viktor Gyokeres<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Swede has both enjoyed and endured a topsy-turvy first year in north London. He finished 2025\/26 as Arsenal’s top scorer in all competitions with 21 goals. During a historic campaign, you couldn’t ask for too much more in the goals department.<\/p>\n

Yet, it has never been scoring goals that is an issue for Gyokeres. It is his overall contribution to the team that has been such a worry.<\/p>\n

His hold-up play has long been questioned and it is fast becoming apparent that Arsenal are not willing to play to his strengths. That much has been obvious in recent games against Napoli and Ipswich; the striker’s only starts of the season.<\/p>\n

In Naples, the centre-forward was met with the deepest of blocks but even so, he was not particularly active in the box. Arteta’s side had 26 shots that night but Gyokeres didn’t have a single one.<\/p>\n

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\n
\"Viktor-Gyokeres-Arsenal-Napoli\"\n <\/picture>REUTERS\/Guglielmo Mangiapane<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

He was a bit more involved against Ipswich in the Carabao Cup last midweek but again, his ability to bring others into play was extremely limited. It said it all that he struggled while Max Dowman and Noni Madueke ran riot. Arsenal’s attack certainly had more space at Portman Road than they did in Italy but Gyokeres could not exploit that.<\/p>\n

It speaks volumes that he has played so little football this term. The 28-year-old has been seen for just 29 minutes in the Premier League.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Gyokeres vs Ipswich<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

\n

Minutes played<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

90<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Shots<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Touches<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

18<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Successful dribbles<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Possession lost<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7x<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Carries<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Key passes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Accurate passes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

9\/13 (69%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Duels won<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1\/4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n

Whether the \u00a364m signing was officially up for sale over the summer is unknown. Reports suggested that Arsenal were considering a swap deal with Atletico Madrid for Julian Alvarez.<\/p>\n

For the Gunners, that would have gone down a treat. The early stages of the season, specifically that clash against Brighton, showcased the need for a world-class centre-forward and Gyokeres is not that.<\/p>\n

In January, Arteta needs to force the striker out, just as he did to Martinelli, and sign an elite replacement. Arsenal have only played eight games this season but the Spaniard has surely seen enougn now.<\/p>\n