Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli
Al Hilal are in talks with Arsenal over signing Brazil international Gabriel Martinelli, talkSPORT understands.
Martinelli has been left out of Mikel Arteta's matchday squad for their two opening games of the season as speculation continues around his future.
Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli3
Martinelli has played 278 times for Arsenal in seven seasons
There was no place even on the bench in the Community Shield win over Man City and Friday's 3-0 victory over Coventry.
The 25-year-old has already rejected a move to Turkish giants Galatasaray this summer.
They made a £38.4m offer, but the Brazil winger has no interest in joining the Super Lig.
talkSPORT understands talks have opened between Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal and Arsenal.
Martinelli is understood to be open to a move to Saudi Arabia this summer.
This is a change in stance from last summer, when he was not keen on a move to Al Nassr.
They considered a £73m offer for the winger, before he stayed to win the Premier League title in north London.
talkSPORT's transfer reporter Ben Jacobs said: “He's got a future if they don't sign somebody in that position, but clearly they are sending a message that Martinelli is somebody that they would be prepared to sanction. Galatasaray bid €45m. The player didn't want to go there specifically.
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“There's interest from Al Hilal as well. Al Nassr were the club that were chasing Martinelli in the past. A year ago, he didn't want to go to Saudi Arabia so he'd have to change his perspective there.
“This is what clubs do when you've got limited time. You pick a matchday squad and some clubs would argue it's not so much disrespecting the player as just protecting the player in case there's a sale and not risking the fact that they could get injured if they play.
Mikel Arteta looks on before Arsenal's match against Girona3
Arteta has frozen out Martinelli at the start of the season
“Other clubs have bomb squads and want to send a message to a player in Martinelli's case that would be happy to stay at Arsenal.
“We know if they're to fund Julian Alvarez or an equivalent player, Martinelli is the one that they can get a big enough fee for. That it would make financial sense.
“As a consequence, he's frozen out for now because Arsenal realise he might be a player that could leave between now and the end of the window.
“That's disappointing from the player's perspective and it's a tough one because if they don't sign someone, he's back in the fold and he's very valuable and he knows that.
“If they do sign someone, he's quickly out of the picture. So he has to play a waiting game.
“If Arsenal do sign somebody, maybe Martinelli will change his position about staying at Arsenal.”
Arsenal forward Christian Tzolis3
Tzolis has started on the left in Arsenal's first two games
Arsenal have already sold Leandro Trossard to Besiktas this summer, meanwhile they signed Christos Tzolis for £34m.
Ian Wright on Martinelli
Arsenal legend Ian Wright was critical of the way Martinelli has been treated by the club.
Martinelli joinedArsenalfrom Brazilian club Ituano back in 2019 and has gone on to score 62 goals in 278 games for the Gunners.
"The way Martinelli is being treated at the moment, it really makes me feel uncomfortable," former Arsenal striker Wright told Sky Sports.
"I know they might want him out, and a lot of people might say, 'yeah, it's time for him to move him on'. But there's ways of doing that and it should suit him as well, how he wants to leave.
"Not being involved in the squad, not being spoken to, he doesn't know what's going on. And yes, I know this - he doesn't know what is happening.
"He's done enough with this squad to be treated with a little bit more respect than he's being treated with at the moment."