Gabriel Martinelli is poised to leave Arsenal for Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal in a deal worth around £50 million, which would set a new record sale for the club. The Brazilian forward has been frozen out of the squad by Mikel Arteta at the start of the 2026/27 season, a situation that has reportedly caused discomfort in the Arsenal dressing room.
Martinelli, who has been with the Gunners for seven years, scoring 62 goals in 278 appearances, has been left out of the squads for the Community Shield win over Manchester City and the opening-day 3-0 victory over Coventry. With less than a year remaining on his contract, Arsenal have decided to sell now, and after rejecting a move to Galatasaray, Martinelli is now expected to join Al-Hilal.
Dressing room sympathy and Ian Wright's concern
ESPN Brazil reports that Martinelli is unhappy at the way he has been cast aside in recent weeks. The 25-year-old reportedly did not receive a medal for the team's Community Shield triumph, and there has been plenty of sympathy from his team-mates.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the win over Coventry, Arsenal legend Ian Wright expressed his discomfort with the treatment of Martinelli. "With respect to Martinelli and the way he's being treated at the moment, it really makes me uncomfortable," Wright said. "He always gives 100 per cent, we're not saying he's the greatest, but he's come up with some big moments for Arsenal in big games, and the way he's being treated at the end here – I know they might want him out and there's a lot of guys saying it's time for him to move on, but there's ways of doing that should suit him as well."
Wright added: "For him to be nowhere near it, just makes me feel a bit sad for him. I think he's done enough in this squad to be treated with a bit more respect than he's been treated at the moment."
Arsenal's summer clear-out and record sale
Moving on Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Fabio Vieira before September 1 has been seen as an important part of Arsenal's summer business. Martinelli would follow Leandro Trossard, Jakub Kiwior and Christian Norgaard out the door this summer.
The £50 million fee would eclipse the £35 million Liverpool paid for midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in 2017 as Arsenal's record sale. The windfall will help the club sign the world-class forward they have been chasing all summer, with Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez still a possibility.
