Arsenal enjoyed an impressive summer transfer window, but Gabriel Martinelli shouldn't still be starting games, and it will be interesting to see whether he keeps his place.
The Gunners spent heavily in the summer market as they aimed to build a squad capable of winning the Premier League after missing out to Liverpool during the 2024/2025 season. The likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi, and Eberechi Eze arrived through the door, among others, but there's an argument to suggest they could have done with more.
Mikel Arteta's recruitment team also focused on strengthening their defence, despite Arsenal's back line already being one of the strongest in the Premier League. Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie have signed on the dotted line at the Emirates Stadium, but it's going to be incredibly tricky for the duo to break into the starting XI during the 2025/2026 season.
Arsenal Made Huge Error in the Transfer Market
Gabriel Martinelli in action for Arsenal
The signing of Eze was an impressive one during the summer transfer window, but if Arsenal are planning to deploy him as a makeshift left-winger, that could be a mistake. In Arsenal's previous game, Martinelli started on the left-hand side of attack, but he's been given plenty of chances with the Gunners in recent years and struggled to perform.
The Brazilian produced 12 goals and assists last season in the Premier League, but if Arsenal want to go to the next level, they need to find a replacement who can start replicating the numbers we see from the likes of Mohamed Salah and even Bukayo Saka.
Leandro Trossard produced three more goals and assists combined than Martinelli during the 2024/2025 season in the Premier League, but the Belgian attacker is now 30 and is being linked with a move away from the club. If Arsenal want to win the Premier League, then deploying Eze in a position where he's not produced his best football won't be the answer.
Sticking with Martinelli, who earns £200,000-a-week at the Emirates Stadium, might also not be the answer, and it's certainly going to be interesting to see who starts in that position in their next game after the international break. Bringing in two defenders who are unlikely to start rather than signing a specialist left-sided attacker might be a huge regret for the Gunners in a few months time.
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