**Gabriel Martinelli** made known his love for **Arsenal** one last time as he leaves the club.
His sale to **Al-Hilal** for a record-breaking £60 million means that the 25-year-old has ended his seven-year stint at the **Emirates Stadium**. The boy who arrived for a pittance from **Ituano** in the fourth division of Brazilian football has fulfilled the dream, departing with the affection of the fans.
·**'I feel like an adopted Hale End boy'**
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Martinelli helped the team win the **FA Cup** in 2020, a **Community Shield** in 2023 and the **Premier League** crown in 2026, finishing runners-up in the English top tier on three occasions this decade.
The journey means much more than just trophies though. It is also the tale of a club that has pulled itself out of the wilderness thanks to the [tireless work of individuals like Martinelli](https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2026/09/03/arsenal/1269721-top-five-martinelli-moments-at-arsenal.html), who found a home with the _Gunners_. His attitude has been exemplary, and he leaves London with a **heavy heart**.
Martinelli's farewell message
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_"The day has come, and honestly, I still don't feel ready to write a goodbye, but I'll try._
_"When I arrived here, seven years ago, I was just a boy who had only recently turned 18. In my heart, I thought I would stay forever. But life is constantly changing, and sometimes our paths take us in directions different from the ones we had planned._
_"Will we ever become champions? Will I adapt to a new club, a new country, a new culture? Will I ever score in the_ **_Champions League_**_? Will I score important goals? Will I have the opportunity to play in the Olympics?_ **_World Cup_**_? And imagine, scoring at a_ **_World Cup_**_?_
_"Those were all the thoughts going through 18-year-old Gabriel's mind. And yes, we did it._
_"We became_ **_FA Cup c_**_hampions,_ **_Community Shield_** _and finally achieved the one we had waited so long for, becoming_ **_Premier League_** _champions. With_ **_Brazil_**_, I won an Olympic gold medal, played in two World Cups, and scored a special goal. And here, with Arsenal, I reached 98 goal contributions._
_"I've spent seven years at this club. I feel like an adopted_ **_Hale End_** _boy, you could say. I found a family that took care of me and watched me grow throughout all these years._
_"I can only thank the staff and my teammates. Thank you to the chefs, kit staff, doctors, doormen, security staff, media team, cleaning staff, physios, and every single teammate who has been part of my story from 2019 until today. Thank you to everyone who helped me grow during this journey._
_"And to the fans, thank you for everything. Since my first day, you made me feel at home. Every time I stepped on the pitch, despite everything, I tried to give everything I had for this shirt._
_"To_ **_Arsenal_**_, thank you for believing in me and giving me the chance to show myself to the world._
_"Most of all, I want to thank my family and my wife, who have been by my side throughout this entire journey, giving me all the emotional support I needed to overcome the challenges that only we truly know._
_"It has been a long journey, too much history and now it has come to an end. I'm writing this with tears in my eyes, so hard to put 7 years into words._
_"From 35 to 11. Once a Gunner, always a Gunner. Goodbye, and thank you again."_