Gabriel Martinelli is one of the players who helped Arsenal significantly at the start of Mikel Arteta’s spell as manager, before the Gunners began making several top signings.
The Brazilian was almost unknown when he arrived at the club, but he did not take long to get used to what was required. During a transition period, he did his best to help the team.
He continued to grow and will also be thankful to the manager for helping him take his game to a new level, particularly when the Arsenal boss could have sold him and allowed him to leave for the several teams that were interested in signing him.
He was asked to find a new club this summer after helping the Gunners win the Premier League and now plays for Al Hilal, but it seems his sacrifices for the Gunners have been forgotten so quickly.
Martinelli’s Arsenal contribution
Most people have moved on from one of the best players at the club at one point in his career, despite the important contribution he made during his time with Arsenal.
He scored at least one crucial goal as Arsenal won the league last term, further underlining his importance during their successful campaign.
Martinelli played an important role during Arsenal’s development under Arteta, and his contribution should not be forgotten simply because he is no longer at the club.
Freddie Ljungberg has now questioned Arsenal supporters over their treatment of the attacker and said via the Metro:
‘A Brazilian football player, he works that hard, the age he has and numbers and stuff, that’s not a cheap football player.’
Ljungberg defends former Arsenal star
Ljungberg believes supporters should remember what Martinelli contributed to Arsenal during his time at the club, particularly the important goals he scored.
Adding: ‘Sometimes the fans forget, maybe, how much he has done for this club, how many important goals he scored during the years.’
The former Arsenal player’s comments highlight the value Martinelli provided during a period when the Gunners were developing under Arteta.
Although Martinelli has now moved on and plays for Al Hilal, his contribution to Arsenal’s rise should still be recognised, especially given the important role he played before the club assembled its current squad.
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Only those who don’t have a footballing brain will have forgotten the contribution of Martinelli during his time at our club and the part he played in helping The Arsenal to be in the position it finds itself in today.
Meanwhile I continue to watch Madueke squander chance after chance and wonder why both Martinelli and Trossard were deemed surplus to requirements.
You and many of the rest of us . He came to us young and raw , He was quick in fact rapid and never hid . Arteta used him as a winger and kept him wide on the touchline .Ancelotti played him more central and he was more effective with Guimareas behind him and Vini jnr outside . Whether he could have made it as central striker we will never know but if he gets the chance I hope he does .
He had one really excellent season but struggled for consistency otherwise – never kicked on to meet the potential most believed he had.
Two constants were his honesty and work rate, which I think everyone appreciated, and imo those traits did contribute greatly to our eventual success (as did his aforementioned excellent season early in arteta’s time in charge). His attitude was exemplary of what arteta wanted from everyone in the squad imo. It’s also very true he scored a number of important goals in big games – I suppose the difference between him and someone like Saka or trossard is that he seemed to struggle more in the other games. Couldn’t find a way to be effective against low blocks.
Speaking of, I do think trossard had a greater/more direct contribution to our title success than martinelli, also scored in big games and even had a similarly positive impact from the moment he joined the club – and he’s far less well thought of. Far more likely to be forgotten by fans imo.
Trossard was the most clinical finisher in the team and has been the much more effective and crucial player for us. He will not be forgotten regardless of his demeanor.
Talking from two side of his mouth, cutting like a Spanish machete, Arteta insisted that ‘ everybody knows and recognizes how much we love Gabi’ prior to the transfer.
But the Brazilian noticeable ommission from the team, and his emotional farewell message suggested a rather cold end to Martineli seven year stint in North London.
Frozen out of the opening squad of the campaign, without a word spoken to in English, there’s no doubt Martineli did not felt love on his way out the door, even if the fanbase largely appreciates his contributions to the club recent rise.
Yeah the forgetting maybe started last season when Martinelli scored only 1 EPL goal through the season despite some more in less important UCL matches
Transfers bring out various feelings . For some it’s an emotional response to a player who has represented the club with distinction, and/or coming through the ranks, and also those who can move on to what the replacement has to offer without batting an eyelid
Both Martinelli and Trossard left this summer and the response to Trossard hasn’t had that emotional impact and yet he was at the Emirates last week watching a match.
It sounds as though Martinelli and Jesus were disappointed by the manner of their departures. I can take it from Martinelli who came to the club as a youngster and we’ve followed his progress and wished him to have fared better. So pleased he has the premier league title to look back on. Less so for me on Jesus who must have known he wasn’t going to be part of the future. He was on a huge salary and spent much of it in rehabilitation and one year remaining on his contract Whilst it’s normal to say once a gunner always a gunner, I have in my memory box players who’ve thoroughly earned that distinction but others who haven’t as much and a few who I was glad to see the back of. Dan’s articles about the best and worst players in the Emirates era included names I really want to forget. The best brought out gratitude and memories of great goals scored
In the end it’s “our club” and “their careers” and the minute a better offer comes along they’ll be off.
You can never forget his contribution or his excellent attitude but there comes a time as with any player that a manager has to come to a decision as to whether the player will feature as much as he needs to or he needs to be moved on.
Life goes on and Martinelli will make a lot of money in Saudi Arabia – some may say that money isn’t everything and it is not but in a career as short as a footballer that has the real possibility of being cut short by injury it is very significant.
Arsenal have done well after losing much more significant players such as Overmars and Pires on the left and they will be just fine as will Martinelli – he will be set for life if he doesn’t get injured.
I wasn’t upset when he left and just wished him the best of luck. That is life, we move on…
Spot on Leon.
No we will not forget him.. but we move
I certainly haven’t forgotten. As frustrating as he could be, he certainly provided his fair share of performances over his 7 years at the club.
Yes I know people say he should have developed into this and that, but the plain fact of the matter is he is still only 25. And his peak years are ahead of him, and if he had stayed yes he probably would have still been frustrating, but there would still have been good performances along the way, and he may just have developed into the player we all hoped he would do.
But instead we’re left with Madueke, if you thought that Martinelli was frustrating, you ain’t seen nothing yet. 🤦♂️😠
I don’t forget them and feel grateful for what Martinelli and other players leaving have done for our club.
I don’t believe that players of our time are unknown about their standing in the club. If they are unsecured about their future they should ask for a meeting or ask their agent to find out.
Some of them would most likely prefer to sit out their contract whether they are playing or not, but our current management have a different approach.
In a time many people are struggling with their economy our privilege players should remain respectful. In a strong and competitive squad like ours some players will always be unhappy. And if they aren’t in a position to play they should respect the reality and look for new options, instead of constructing problems.