Arsenal are having to sanction several exits in the final days of the transfer window with some of their fringe players, Gabriel Martinelli among them, seeking pastures new
Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus are both poised to leave Arsenal
Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus are both poised to leave Arsenal(Image: Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)
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Arsenal haven't rested on their laurels this summer and despite completing some blockbuster deals the club have still been active ahead of Tuesday's deadline.
The Premier League champions looked in total control in their opening game as they hammered Coventry City at the Emirates. They did so with new signing Christos Tzolis impressing from the left wing following his summer move from Club Brugge.
Mikel Arteta was without Bruno Guimaraes, who was dealing with an injury which meant he couldn't take up his role in midfield, whilst Ezri Konsa wasn't signed and registered in time from Aston Villa. He could make his debut on Monday night against his former club.
Arsenal's arrivals has left them with a star-studded squad, but one that ultimately has too many senior players for even a matchday squad. Arteta has bemoaned the fact he's had to leave certain players out, suggesting the authorities should increase the size of the benches.
He had claimed that certain absentees, the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli, were still part of his plans, but with days left in the window both are poised to depart.
Brazilian duo among three to exit
Jesus looks to have landed himself a sensational move to Barcelona having been linked with a switch to Italy for much of the summer. The Spanish champions will pay £8.4million for the 29-year-old, who had entered the final year of his contract.
Jesus was one of the signings that saw Arsenal turn into title contenders when he joined from Manchester City in 2022. He was initially a regular but over the years has seen his role decrease, in part owing to injury, and now has Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz ahead of him in the pecking order.
Mikel Arteta has been forced to let some of his attacking player leave such is the depth of his squad
Mikel Arteta has been forced to let some of his attacking player leave such is the depth of his squad(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
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Compatriot Gabriel Martinelli was alongside Jesus in a front three that also included Bukayo Saka when Arsenal first challenged for the Premier League under Arteta. But, like Jesus, his role has been impacted by the club's constant desire to add more firepower.
Unlike Jesus, who Arsenal will make a loss on, Martinelli stands to represent a huge profit having been signed as an unknown quantity. A £60m switch to Saudi Arabia is now close.
Another fringe player in Fabio Vieira, who was signed in 2022 but has made just five league starts in that time, is set for a permanent switch to Hamburg. He had spent last season on loan at the Bundesliga side and is now set to call them home moving forward.
Winger signed as Alvarez saga drags on
Even with Jesus and Martinelli set to leave, Arteta can still look to the likes of Gyokeres, Havertz, Saka, Tzolis, Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke, Martin Odegaard and Ethan Nwaneri as options in the final third.
Julian Alvarez has been pushing for the exit door at Atletico Madrid
Julian Alvarez has been pushing for the exit door at Atletico Madrid(Image: (Dennis Agyeman/Europa Press via Getty Images))
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Despite that they've still agreed a £4m deal for young Georgian winger Andria Bartishvili. The teenager was also on Liverpool's radar but has opted for a switch to the capital.
Julian Alvarez's saga has dragged on all summer and, despite skipping Atletico Madrid training this week, the club are adamant he will not be sold to Barcelona. The Catalan's pursuit of Jesus does fill the void they had in their attack, which they had hoped Alvarez would fill.
If the Argentine does want to leave Atletico it would appear as though Arsenal are his only option. Diego Simeone is still prepared to welcome him back and Alvarez has returned to training, which would indicate he's much closer to staying rather than heading back to the Premier League.
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