Gabriel Martinelli was not included in the Arsenal squad for their first league game of the season against Coventry City, and he also missed their Community Shield fixture. His absence has fuelled speculation that he could leave Arsenal during this transfer window.
The Brazilian played his part as the Gunners won the league last season, but the club reportedly wants him to leave and plans to replace him with a world-class star. Martinelli has already turned down a move to Turkiye to join Galatasaray, although he has opened the door to a transfer to the Saudi Pro League.
Al Hilal have been in talks with Martinelli over the last few days, and Arsenal expect a deal to happen. Fans believe that could explain why he has been left out of the last two matchday squads, although that may not be the complete reason for his absence.
Martinelli’s Absence May Have Another Explanation
Clubs often leave players out of their matchday squads when their departure is imminent, particularly when negotiations over a transfer are ongoing. Martinelli’s situation could therefore be linked to the possibility of him leaving Arsenal before the transfer window closes.
However, there is another explanation for his absence, and it could mean that his omission from the squad does not necessarily confirm that he is on his way out. Arsenal still have the option of including him in future matchday squads if his situation changes.
The Premier League places a limit on the number of players teams can name for each matchday, meaning managers have to make difficult decisions when selecting their groups. Arsenal were able to name 20 other players without Martinelli for their latest fixture.
Martinelli Could Still Return
Standard Sport reports that the Premier League only allows teams to name a 20-player squad for each matchday. The Gunners managed to name 20 other players in the group without Martinelli, meaning his absence does not necessarily indicate that his Arsenal career is over.
If Martinelli does not leave the club during this transfer window, he could therefore return to the squad in the future. His current absence may be connected to transfer speculation, but it is not definitive evidence that a move is imminent.
Arsenal will continue to assess the situation as the window approaches its conclusion. With Al Hilal interested and Martinelli having already rejected a move to Galatasaray, his future remains uncertain, but his omission from the last two squads does not automatically mean he will leave the Gunners.
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So if Tsolis went down injured in first 5, who would have replaced him on the left? Eze? Noni?
You would have the uniqueness of Martinelli on bench, to cover left but right as well wouldn’t you?
Exactly. We don’t have any great cover options for Tzolis on the left if Martinelli goes. Eze is not ideal there as we know (and we may need him to cover Ødegaard anyway), and I bet no-one is very excited about the prospect of Madueke on the left… The only other player we have who could realistically slot in there as cover is Gabriel Jesus, who used to be a left winger, but looks like we’re selling him too. So we 100% would want to buy a player to maintain a title push / Champs League push if we lost Nelli.
Being honest, more often than not eze or noni on the left is no worse than martinelli. They may not be as devastating on the very rare occasion we get to counter attack from halfway, but aside from that, they’re no worse.
“and I bet no-one is very excited about the prospect of Madueke on the left”
Well… actually… I think he could do a good job on the left. Noni is reasonably two footed, but left is his natural side, and instead of cutting in for cross orcshit, it opens up crosses from by line – and Noni has played left for England and looked good there.
The cover for Ode this season is obviously Alvarez, who will bench Ode to take his number 10 slot far more often than benching Kai to okay 9. Kai 9 Alvarez support striker is how MA is going to play it.
What’s interesting about this evenings weak looking Chelsea line up, it’s knowing they have some better players to come into it, but only into the positions to replace the better players they’ve got, not the weaker ones. Also three at the back often serves the bottom half of premier league hoping to get into top 10 or better, but when the bigger clubs try it they leave themselves too light and outmanned in the middle of the park.
Did I just say orcshit?
That’s Fulham’s defending, that is. 😆
And Sanchez goal keeping 😆
Haha, indeed!
Madueke can play left wing yeah, but it’s actually not his natural side, he’s primarily left-footed and a right winger by trade. He joined us from Chelsea partly because he saw them trying to bring in Estevao to replace him. So making him Tzolis’s permanent backup on the left side wouldn’t be a great solution long-term for him or us. Because even though as you say he is reasonably two-footed, and he CAN shoot with his right, he favours his left. His left foot shot is way stronger. Even there, we’re hoping he can improve his end product… Chelsea previously tried him out as a LW, but then moved him back to the right, which doesn’t say everything but is instructive. He’s good for counters, running the byline and pumping in crosses, fearless against defenders, and maybe that’s enough as a stopgap for a season.
For a more long term solution, yes the links to Alvarez keep getting more interesting but most likely for second striker/AM as you say. He’s best as an inside player so it would seem odd to play him on the left ahead of Tzolis. If Alvarez does end up coming, I would expect they would occasionally stick him on the left as a late-game sub… but ideally I think based on our previous discussion both you and I would prefer that they go for more of a specialist LW for the longer term than a makeshift fill-in.
Yep! And now you’ve said it again😱
Said what again?
“orcshit”
Although it’s right that only 20 players can be named it a match day squad, using that as an excuse for why Martinelli was left out is a load of rubbish imho. The club want to sell him so don’t want to risk him getting injured.
Herr Drier,
We can speculate all we like, but we’ll only know the truth of the matter between now and September 2nd.
It can’t come soon enough in my opinion. I personally hope he stays, by the way.
Does it feel to you guys, the vibe, from the wanting Nelli out for £50M pure profit, our club has a rabbit waiting in the hat?
Barcola? Williams?
From “vibe”… no big rabbits unfortunately. It could help with getting Alvarez and then winging it with what we have as backups for the left. The left winger market is rough this window.
There’s also now talk of Matias Fernandez-Pardo from Lille, who would be a similar price, but is more of a center forward who can play in wide roles if needed (like a cheaper, WAY faster Alvarez in a way). He’s literally faster than Martinelli.
Another issue is that Martinelli is homegrown, and we will be running very low on homegrown players if we lose him. If we also lose Nwaneri, the next player we buy would HAVE to be homegrown, if I recall correctly.
Bergkampfwagen, we are ok for homegrown players even without Martinelli. We have 8.
Raya
Konsa
Saliba
White
Eze
Saka
Rice
Madueke
Good good (also Nwaneri is under 21 of course, so not counted toward the total). I suppose though if we move on any of those 8 players, it will become an issue. That’s I think one of the reasons they were so focused on Konsa – making sure they left space for a non-homegrown player for the forward roles.
“From “vibe”… no big rabbits unfortunately.”
But it all adds up. What can be a Martinelli upgrade?
It can only be Barcola in the bag.
We are going to bid as much as Liverpool get accepted, knowing the player has chosen us.
Barcola definitely leaves, as PSG have recruited on the basis, he is now further down pecking order. And Liverpool know both he has chosen us, and we will match their accepted bid.
Soon as Martinelli agrees contract to move and medical goes through, Arsenal will announce the signing of Barcola!
It all adds up, there is not a single doubt about it.
Though it could be Nico Williams in the hat in the bunny costume instead.
Or it might be Yildiz, as Juve protest too much considering nothing is happening behind the scenes.
Derek, he’s going to Al Hilal.
Al’s real name is Alan. Alan Eyelash.
It sort of makes sense for oldie Watkin’s to go to Alan Eyelash for the money, but absolutely not the right move for Martinelli is it – he’s only 25 for the whole of the coming season. He should be playing in Europe. He can still get better and better with game time at the right level.
This move is not happening as it makes no sense at all. Martinelli not going to Alan Eyelash.
No, Al Hilal means The Crescent Moon.
European clubs don’t want to pay the transfer fee what The Arsenal are asking. Martinelli is discussing terms with Al Hilal.
And what is a Crescent Moon if it’s not an eyelash 🤣
Even funnier: Spurs have lost the plot. If Prem Failure Savio is worth £85M I’ve a Michael Bridge to sell you.
Savio is part of the CFG ownership pastoral farming programme – he had one good season abroad based on the players around him helping him, “moved” to the City squad, they found out they really couldn’t trust him at this level… now he’s reached end of road within CFG and Prem Football, Spurs have just given CFG a huge amount of money to take him off their hands 🤦♀️and Jamie Ohara is on sky talking about what an incredible highly regarded player Savio is. Based on what? What have the Spurs scouting system and analysts under pinning all this spending actually seen?
What was the signing on fee and agent fee for Tonali on top the Transfer fee?
Spurs recruiting team are acting as newbies in this game, getting mugged by intermediaries. They are getting mugged.
Maybe it is in your crazy world 🙄.
I saw Alan Hilal at the 02, on his a blinking wink of light opening against the velvet sky tour. That was a crazy night 🙂
Herr Drier,
It certainly looks that way doesn’t it.
Thank you. We simply don’t know. Except for perhaps Wrighty?
Why would you buy an LW to make Tzolis a back up? Martinelli is paid too much to sit, move him on.
Greece is the word, is the word that you heard
Greece is the time, is the place, is the Tzolis!
“Greece is the word, is the word that you heard
Greece is the time, is the place, is the Tzolis!”
🤭
Martinelli out and Alvarez in, I do not agree with. Alvarez is not a LW. And waaaay too much money I know he is supposed to be versatile but I have many preferences over Alvarez who has reashe left England before. Barcola, yes but waaay to expensive. Yildiz, now is injured. I do not like this Alvarez chase. He wants Barca.
reashe, should be reasons he.