Gabriel Martinelli is facing a crucial season at Arsenal in the 2025/26 campaign.
The Brazil international has seemingly stagnated under Mikel Arteta, failing to kick on from a scintillating 2022/23 campaign in which he scored 15 goals in 36 Premier League appearances – worryingly, he has only scored 14 goals combined in the two Premier League seasons since that term.
Gabriel Martinelli will surely be eager to better himself ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup next summer, where there is a new man to impress after Carlo Ancelotti was appointed manager of Brazil, although the Arsenal No.11 could be a bit anxious after hearing that the Gunners are trying to sign Rodrygo from Real Madrid.
Push for Rodrygo could worry Gabriel Martinelli ahead of the FIFA World Cup
Andrea Berta is working on a deal for Rodrygo amidst a difficult situation for the South American at Real Madrid.
Xabi Alonso failed to hand the Brazilian a single minute of action in the most recent FIFA Club World Cup outing, a 3-1 win over Pachuca, and he is believed to be keen on a more prominent role.
If Arsenal manage to sign Rodrygo – who Gabriel Magalhaes wants in N5 – he would be likely to play on the left flank, as Bukayo Saka is practically untouchable in the starting XI.
That could see Martinelli – who is already considering his future amidst interest from Bayern Munich, TBR Football understand – benched for his fellow countryman, in a season where both will be pushing to impress Ancelotti and secure a play on the left wing at the FIFA World Cup.
The Real Madrid No.11 can play centrally, scoring 22 goals in 82 appearances in that position throughout his career, although TBR Football understand Arteta absolutely adores Havertz and is expected to start the German at striker in the opening game of the 2025/26 campaign.
Therefore, with Saka also having a stranglehold on the right flank, any move for Rodrygo would surely come at a cost for Martinelli after his underwhelming last two seasons.
Mikel Arteta might be planning this on purpose
Competition for places can help to create a productive environment in football, where nobody is resting on their laurels.
With little competition for that spot on the left in recent times, Arsenal may feel Martinelli has become too comfortable, so perhaps Arteta and Andrea Berta – Director of Football at the Emirates Stadium – are deliberately planning to make a marquee signing in that area to push the man from Sao Paulo.