Arsenal were extremely busy overhauling Mikel Arteta's squad this summer, and while new sporting director Andrea Berta made many exciting moves, he has made a potentially disastrous transfer blunder. The Gunners spent over £250m on big-money signings such as Viktor Gyokeres as they looked to have finally sorted out their goalscoring issues.
Arteta's squad is brimming with talent, and you could argue that there isn't a better one in the Premier League when it comes to strength in depth. The additions of Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke have given the Spaniard plenty of options to tinker with his side when he sees fit.
This could lead to one or two of his long-serving players growing frustrated with their minutes and looking to depart for more opportunities. But Arteta has stuck by one of his troops for far too long and should have cashed in this summer.
Arsenal Attacker Will Fall Down Arteta's Pecking Order
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When the summer transfer window opened, it was clear that Arsenal needed to bolster their attack. One key area that needed improvement was up top, with the Gunners crying out for a centre-forward, which was solved by the acquisition of Gyokeres, who already has two goals in as many games.
There was also the glaring issue of Gabriel Martinelli, a star who should be shining bright as one of Arteta's main men but has somehow regressed in recent years. Now in his sixth year at the Emirates, the Brazilian winger is cause for concern amid a lacklustre run of form extending back to the end of the 2023-24 campaign.
Martinelli has looked toothless in front of goal, often making the wrong decision and spurning a golden opportunity. When Noni Madueke's arrival from Chelsea received backlash, a significant reason behind this was that fans yearned for a ready-made left-winger to come into Arteta's starting XI.
Madueke, unlike Martinelli, has looked a handful so far this season when used on the right, and he has proven a vital signing given Bukayo Saka's injury. He was joined later on in the window by Eberechi Eze, who chose his boyhood club over rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
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Eze isn't a left-winger by trade, more of an attacking midfielder who can float out wide, but he is undoubtedly an upgrade on Martinelli. He managed an impressive tally of 14 goals and 11 assists across competitions last season, far superior to that of the Brazilian, who registered 10 goals and six assists.
Arsenal only confused fans further when news broke of Leandro Trossard's contract extension, given that the Belgian was rotating with Martinelli. It seemed the signings of Eze and Madueke would lead to either Martinelli or Trossard leaving, but that wasn't the case.
The Gunners Will Rue Not Selling
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If there ever was the perfect time to cash in on Martinelli, it would have been this summer as he heads into the final two years of his contract at the Emirates. The club's fifth-highest earner's sale may well have raked in a handsome sum of money and rid them of his purported £180,000 per week wages.
The 24-year-old was linked with Saudi Pro League giants Al-Nassr in July, although there was no word on the kind of fee Cristiano Ronaldo's Saudi club was prepared to offer. Arteta, Berta and fellow decision makers reportedly responded to this interest by making the player not for sale.
Martinelli's game time will diminish with Eze arriving and Trossard extending, and this will undoubtedly have a negative impact on his price tag, and interested clubs will be aware of Arteta's stance, given the decision to go into the market for possible replacements. The North London giants were continuously linked with Rodrygo, but the finances involved in a potential deal for the Real Madrid star proved too expensive.
Rodrygo could have been the missing piece of the puzzle for Arteta in his bid to finally win the Premier League title in his seventh year in charge. Martinelli's compatriot is the real deal, with explosive pace, instinctive movement and a proven eye for goal, bagging 68 goals in 272 games for the La Liga giants.
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A front three of Rodrygo, Gyokeres and Saka would have been a title-winning worthy one for Arteta, but instead he'll spend another season pondering who his best left-winger is. Eze could still have arrived to give Martin Odegaard the necessary competition, given the Norwegian attacker has still to fully become the talismanic figure his team require to become champions.
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