On Sunday, it emerged that Bayern Munich are exploring the possibility of signing Gabriel Martinelli from Arsenal, as reported. The suggestion that the German giants could submit a tempting offer has left Gooners split down the middle.
Some supporters believe allowing Martinelli to leave would be a major misstep. They argue that Arsenal are already pursuing a top-level left winger, someone capable of elevating the team’s attack, and that selling the Brazilian would leave Mikel Arteta needing not one, but two options on the left flank.
From that viewpoint, a club serious about challenging for major honours does not part ways with Martinelli, regardless of who is brought in as a new starter.
Martinelli’s output and squad value
There is also a belief that Martinelli offers more long-term value as a back-up than 30-year-old Leandro Trossard. Statistically, Martinelli remains one of the most productive wide players in the league.
Only four wingers have delivered more combined goals and assists in the last three Premier League seasons:
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Mohamed Salah: 108 appearances, 106 goal contributions
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Bukayo Saka: 98 appearances, 66 goal contributions
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Bryan Mbeumo: 101 appearances, 59 goal contributions
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Son Heung-min: 101 appearances, 59 goal contributions
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Gabriel Martinelli: 104 appearances, 49 goal contributions
Retaining the 24-year-old would signal ambition and a shift from a “one in, one out” approach to building true squad depth, arguably the defining theme of this summer window.
Time to cash in or build depth?
Still, others suggest there is logic in selling. If Arsenal do sign a top-tier winger such as Rodrygo, Martinelli’s valuation could drop significantly next season. In a market where clubs like Liverpool may demand around £35 million for a player like Jarell Quansah, Arsenal could potentially secure upwards of £60 million for Martinelli now.
This raises a deeper question. Why are Arsenal even chasing a left winger if Martinelli remains at the club?
The answer may lie in the elevated standards now expected under Arteta. His project demands elite-level consistency. While Martinelli has performed well, there is a view that well may no longer be enough. Some believe this is the ideal time to sell and reinvest in a player who offers greater reliability or upside.
Given Arsenal’s struggles in generating strong sales historically, genuine interest in Martinelli could represent an opportunity too good to ignore.
What do you think Gooners?
Daniel O
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Martinelli should never be sold!
People forget how much defending this guy does for us, and not only that, his stats hold up or best many of the so called “world class” LW out there.
He can be frustrating in the final third at times, so we definitely need more depth in that position, and hopefully that could also improve Martinelli even more.
We need to improve squad depth, not sell and replace him, because we’d still be short.
I can see eggs on faces if good sense doesn’t prevail.
Martinelli’s goal and assist numbers might look slightly inferior to Salah’s and Saka’s in 2024/25 season, but I believe he reached the byline more often than them and his dribbling attempts/ success rate should be higher than theirs as well
We need someone pacier than Trossard to compete with Martinelli, but a new inverted-RW to keep Saka on his toes is more required since Nwaneri isn’t pacey enough to play RW
Martinelli shouldn’t be sold, because he’s in his prime, he’s been working very hard and he’s a homegrown winger
@Gotanidea
It’s all about the end product. Reaching the byline / dribbling more means nothing if the end product is poor.
I would prefer more end product than the amount of dribbling or Byline success a player conjures up.
Martinelli is now in his prime and we are still talking about him like he is some 17 to 19 years old rookie. He should be much more accomplished right now.
Saka’s goal tally was inflated by his penalties
The havoc Martinelli wreaked in the final-third with his dribbles could’ve dramatically increase our goal tally, if Arteta had the cojones to instruct his inverted-LB cut inside and shoot more often
Yeah I agree with this. Arteta seems to want him to stretch play wide, which results in him not cutting in as close and having fewer opportunities to shoot. Previously he used to get a lot of opportunities by getting right up into the box and making the most of chaotic situations, so if he’s restrained from that for whatever reason (LB, LCM issues + Odegaard being forced to track back more), that’s not helping. His shooting hasn’t improved in the last few seasons either. All of which points to his current role / instructions being detrimental to his final numbers.
,@Gai, I agree I don’t want Matinelli to be sold, but his dribbles last season lacked end product. However, his defensive work rate is quite good. He needs a competitor that is not necessary pacier than him but more productive. That could improve Matinelli. If he is injury free we could see a better version of him next season because age is in his side and he seem.ti like Arsenal a lot.
Arteta also needs to improve his tactics to help the output and efficiency of his players.. I am not sure PSG has any R or L wingers pacier than Matinelli, but their wingers and trickery and efficient.
At least someone faster and trickier than Trossard
I think Trossard’s goal conversion rate and number of assists were slightly better than Martinelli’s last season, but Trossard couldn’t reach the byline as often as Martinelli did
If we were offered 50 million for him it would surely be tempting. I would like to keep him because his work rate is fantastic, but l do believe we need another left winger who offers more goals.
I love Martinelli, he’s one of my favourite players and has been excellent for us. He’s struggled a bit without a like for like replacement for Xhaka though, and that might still be the case next season. Hard to predict. I’d expect him to improve his goal stats this season, but if we get the chance to sell him to Bayern for 50-60m and bring in Rodrygo in his place, I’d expect the club will opt for that. And as disappointing as it would be to lose him, it would probably be the right move. Hard choices.
I don’t think Arsenal should sell him. His performance is affected by not having a left back to support him the way White supports Saka. White rarely ever inverts. His performance was better when he had Calafiori, who doesn’t invert, to support him. Also Odegaard’s play seems to be more focused on the right of the pitch, meaning Martinelli has to work on his own. If Arteta stops asking the left backs to invert, I believe Martinelli’s goal contribution will also improve.
I also think he could be a good cf if Arteta takes the time to works with him the way Wenger converted Henry and Van Persie
I personally thought he was destined for a world class career,reminded me of Sanchez when he burst on the scene but he’s fallen off the cliff ,havent seen a player with that much scope suddenly go that far backwards ,probably as to do with Artetas right side overload and he’s taken the brunt of it ,not many attackers have gone forward under this manager and this is another example of that .
Shame but I would sell him now ,but knowing us we would only get 20 odd milllion for him .
Better than running down his contract and letting him go for Fck all I suppose
Maybe 1 more season with Martinelli at Arsenal otherwise fans are reaching saturation point with him. When you expected him you don’t get him and vice versa. His every moves on the corridors have become predictable not only by opponents but the camera men knew it well.
If Arsenal are to sell, I think it should be Trossard not Martinelli. His form has dipped I know, but that’s not entirely down to him to be fare.
The way the team is so right sided so to speak hasn’t helped him. And not replacing Granit, who’s one good season certainly helped Martinelli down the left side.
I still believe that Martinelli is young enough to improve some more. But I do believe that some one needs to tell him to run with his head up, hence he would then have a better chance regarding his final decision making.
But as I said earlier, sell Trossard and not Martinelli. 👍
I might be wrong, but I see martinelli as one of those who isn’t at a world class level and it seems likely never will be but is both endearing to the fans (not least because of his work rate), and is just good enough that he’s basically seen as part of the team and so not one many would consider selling. Fact is, of the all the positions in our first team lineup, his is probably the one that’s most obviously in need of improvement, possibly alongside or marginally below CF. I think blaming the tactical setup is just excuse making, if I’m honest – better players would make more of their opportunities, and his teammates would naturally look to him more often.
I like him as much as everyone else, I just don’t think he should be our starting winger if we’re going to win the league. He’s more valuable than trossard and doesn’t really give better output, so I would sell if the opportunity is there. While I do hope I’m wrong, I’d rather we bought someone else in as I just can’t see him being a leading player for us next season.
The one thing he gives us that no one else really does, is pace, which can be a valuable outlet at times. So that’s worth keeping in mind.
Not to many wingers around with his ability !! Good enough to play for Brazil but not good enough to play for Arsenal. Wow !!!
I would say we move on Leo, keep Martinelli, and go for Rodrygo, but realistically we are spending £60 on a DM, at least another 60-70mil potentially on a ST, getting Rodrygo will cost another 70-80mil. I don’t see the club spending that much in one window, so if we put any kind of clause in Omari Hutchinson’s deal, we should go for him, perfect backup for both RW and LW
All of you are obviously dillusioned together with d writer of this ridiculous article. How on earth will bayern ever think of martinelli let alone buying him? Or do you think bayern lacks ambition like us. Martinelli should be shipped off ASAP but bayern won’t even have him for free
I disagree
Under an attacking manager I think he would do great
Agree Dan and when MA actually attacked during the first two seasons of finishing second, we saw Martinelli at his best.
I notice, once again, that the words runs with his head down, is being used, but, if that’s the case, where is the manager who should be coaching that out of him?
We have a brilliant player, who has been injured and needs encouragement and support.
Careful Ken
Was that you being crucial of our manager lol.
I really don’t get Arsenal fans who want to sell Martinelli.
Unless someone is coming in with an astronomical transfer fee it makes no sense for a team that wants to challenge for major titles to be looking to sell such a talented player who is also one of the more hardworking left sided attacking players.
Marti is a high-quality player and has the potential to become one of the top 10 players if utilized correctly. MA kept him playing on the left LINE side only and barely used him.
After Xhaka left and Zinchenko took over, we witnessed a significant drop in his stats, which suggests that there is a problem. In my opinion, it’s not that he became a bad player; instead, I see that MA doesn’t know how to bring out the best in him and utilize him more effectively.
Remember when he switched him to the right side instead of Saka, how he was creative, but this will never happen with MA. He can’t switch the players’ locations during the game for some reason!
Martinelli in the berneabeu enough said. Should have been played up top over trossard. There’s a player there, just need to be let loose and express himself