As Premier League champions, Arsenal are in a rarified atmosphere right now. They finished the 2025/26 season with a very strong squad – this year, however, it looks greater still.
Nevertheless, inevitably, the Gunners must lose a few players. Squad turnover, even at the highest level of the game, is always to be expected.
The Gunners have already lost Leandro Trossard in the ongoing summer transfer window. Now, it looks like another winger will be leaving the Emirates Stadium.
According to a report from Sky Sports, Al Hilal have ‘made progress’ regarding a move that would see Martinelli leave Arsenal to join the Saudi Pro League.
While a fee has yet to be agreed upon, the deal would include a 20% sell-on clause that would see Arsenal net a profit from any future transfers.
Martinelli wasn’t included in Arsenal’s matchday squad last Friday, when they defeated Coventry City by a score of 3-0 at home. With Christos Tzolis having carved out a spot in the starting XI, it seems his place in the team has been effectively usurped.
As well as this, Al Hilal aren’t the only club who have been linked with a move for the Brazilian international in the last few weeks.
According to TransferFeed, Premier League teams such as Newcastle United and Manchester United have both been in the mix recently. Furthermore, teams from abroad, like Inter Milan, Juventus and Atletico Madrid have also been linked.
Gabriel Martinelli 2025/26 Premier League stats
Games Goals Assists
Martinelli 30 1 4
Gabriel Martinelli 2025/26 Champions League stats
Games Goals Assists
Martinelli 14 6 2
Gabriel Martinelli 2026 World Cup stats
Games Goals Assists
Martinelli 4 1 0
Can Arsenal afford to lose Martinelli?
At one point, Martinelli looked like one of the most promising wingers in world football. While still a decent attacking player, he hasn’t developed quite as much as the Gunners might have hoped.
His inconsistency is his greatest downfall. He generated some excellent numbers in the Champions League last season, notching up eight goal contributions in 14 Champions League games, but could only manage five in 30 Premier League outings.
Additionally, according to Capology, Martinelli is on a weekly wage of £180,000 a week. For a backup winger, this is a serious wedge of money that Arsenal don’t need to be spending.
As we previously mentioned, with Christos Tzolis having joined the club, Martinelli’s playing time will be limited – he isn’t going to start regularly over the Greek international.
Still, If Arsenal do opt to sell Martinelli, it would leave them short of options on the left wing. It’s likely that they’ll have a replacement lined up, but they may have to sell the 25-year-old first before any movements can be made.
The Gunners have spent a lot of money in the transfer window thus far, with their total spend almost reaching £200 million. We don’t know how much financial wiggle room is left for them to splash any more cash, but it would likely be prudent for them to sanction an outgoing first.