Martin Keown has urged Mikel Arteta not to sell Gabriel Martinelli, insisting the Brazil forward still has a place at Arsenal despite growing speculation over his future.
Arsenal have started the 2026/27 season strongly, beating Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield and then defeating Coventry City by the same scoreline in their opening Premier League match. Martinelli, however, was not included in the matchday squad for either game, fuelling rumours that his seven-year spell in north London is coming to an end.
Form dip and transfer interest
The 25-year-old's form dipped last season, with just one goal and four assists in the Premier League as Arsenal won the title, though he was more productive in the Champions League and FA Cup. Summer signing Christos Tzolis has impressed on the left flank in Martinelli's absence, and Arsenal are still looking to add another forward before deadline day, with a record-breaking move for Julian Alvarez reportedly possible.
Martinelli has already turned down a transfer to Galatasaray but is said to be open to joining Al Hilal. Talks are ongoing with the Saudi Pro League club, with Arsenal seeking up to £60million for the player.
Keown's view on Martinelli's future
Ian Wright has publicly criticised Arsenal's treatment of Martinelli, but Keown does not share the same sentiment. Asked if Arsenal had outgrown the forward, Keown told talkSPORT: 'No, I think there's still a place for him. I thought he turned a corner at the end of last season.'
He added: 'He [Tzolis] has fitted in remarkably well. So, they [Arsenal] may be looking at that and there may be somebody else in the window that they need the money for from Gabriel Martinelli. They can't allow his contract to run out. Business has to be done, and everyone has to accept that.'
'He will know exactly his position at the football club, that's without a doubt. If he does go, it's with a heavy heart that he goes because he's a player that I've admired in the way that he's played. But if they're going to the next level and he's got a year left of his contract…'
Contract situation and Tzolis impact
Martinelli has entered the final year of his contract, but Arsenal hold an option to extend it until 2028. While his future may lie away from the Emirates, Tzolis has made an immediate impact, recording three assists in his first two games.
'Tzolis? Yeah, exceptional,' Keown said. 'I think as good a debut as I've seen from a wide player. I might have to go back as far as Freddy Ljungberg, and he came off the bench in a 3-0 victory against Manchester United.'
'This kid, his decision making [is] excellent, the way he was working on that left-hand side with Riccardo Calafiori, already dove tailing. It's worked really quickly, very well. He's exceeded expectations and it's almost as if they've scoured Europe to find the equivalent of Leandro Trossard, that same sort of intelligence. This lad is maybe a bit quicker.'
'It's a major upgrade on where he was at Norwich before. He's certainly performed a lot better than he did the last time he would have been at the Emirates. But all of that has given him that Premier League experience to get off to a good start.'
