Gabriel Martinelli has had mixed fortunes in London. The young Brazilian arrived at Arsenal from Ituano in 2019 with the ambition of making his mark in the Premier League. Over six years, he has shown flashes of quality, flair and dedication, but his performance has not always been convincing due to his lack of consistency.
Despite this, the club and Mikel Arteta have placed their trust in him because they believe he still has a lot of potential. In this summer transfer window, however, his name is beginning to be mentioned away from the Emirates, which is causing uncertainty and divided opinions among Gunners fans.
Al-Nassr are interested in 24-year-old Arsenal player
According to a recent report by Ben Jacobs, Al-Nassr has Martinelli among their priorities to strengthen its attack. The Saudis make no secret of their intention to sign European-level players to keep the project’s ambition alive. They already tried with Liverpool‘s Luis Díaz, but the deal is not progressing, and now they are turning their attention to Martinelli as an alternative plan.
The Saudis know that it will not be easy to negotiate with Arsenal, as the London club is not looking to sell and has begun exploratory talks to extend the winger’s contract. Even so, Al-Nassr believes that an exorbitant offer could make the Gunners’ board hesitate.
Opinion:
Now, what should weigh more in Arsenal’s balance? The question divides opinion because it is not just about numbers. Martinelli is not a player who guarantees 20 goals per season, but his profile brings spark and quality to the wing. Selling him would open the door to a significant injection of money, perhaps useful for signings that raise the collective level.
However, losing an attacker who still has room to grow could take its toll. Arsenal have been rebuilding a competitive base for years, and letting go of young players sends a contradictory message. The club need depth and fresh legs to compete in all competitions. While the temptation of a million-pound sale is seductive, the priority should be to strengthen, not weaken.
In terms of long-term strategy, letting Martinelli go without a proven replacement would be a step backwards. The Premier League demands large squads and attacking options. If the Brazilian leaves, someone would have to come in with immediate impact. In addition, the chemistry that Martinelli has with teammates such as Gabriel Jesus and Saka would be lost. Sometimes, intangibles weigh more than statistics.
What to do?
It is also worth asking whether his inconsistency justifies opening the door to a departure. His last season was indeed lacklustre by his standards: ten goals and six assists in 51 games is not much to write home about. But there are factors such as injuries and Arteta’s rotation policy that affected his continuity.
With a more defined role, he could explode. Therefore, unless Al-Nassr pulls out the cheque book with irresistible figures, Arsenal should keep him. The message to the fans would be clear: here we build to win titles, not to make money. If someone has to be sacrificed, it should not be a 24-year-old player with a future and the potential to be a game-changer.
The Premier League does not forgive planning mistakes. Arsenal have learned the hard way that selling young talent on impulse ends up being expensive. For me, retaining Martinelli is a must if they want to compete at the top. The Saudi offer may sound tempting, but sporting ambition must outweigh the bank account. Arsenal need to add, not subtract. In the end, keeping faith in Martinelli may pay greater dividends than any petrodollar.