Arsenal squad disagree with Mikel Arteta decision as star approves £40m transfer

Mikel Arteta’s treatment of Gabriel Martinelli has caused ‘some discomfort’ within the Arsenal squad, according to reports in Brazil.

Martinelli is closing in on a move away from Arsenal after being told to find a new club by Gunners boss Arteta.

Having made his first-team debut in 2019, Martinelli is Arsenal’s longest-serving player and has racked up just shy of 300 appearances for the club.

Martinelli began to fade out of Arteta’s plans last season but still contributed to Arsenal’s first Premier League title since 2004 and the run to the Champions League final.

The writing appeared to be on the wall for Martinelli when Arsenal completed a £34m deal for Christos Tzolis earlier in the summer.

The audacious yet unsuccessful pursuit of Brazil icon Vinicius Junior from Real Madrid also suggested Arteta was planning to offload Martinelli.

Arteta made his stance on Martinelli clear by leaving the 25-year-old out of Arsenal’s matchday squad for the Community Shield against Manchester City.

ESPN Brasil say that decision and the general treatment Martinelli has received in recent weeks has left the Brazilian ‘greatly disappointed’.

The report adds that other members of Arsenal’s squad were also unhappy Martinelli was left out of the Community Shield altogether and therefore did not receive a winners’ medal.

Martinelli was also left out of Arsenal’s Premier League opener against Coventry City and told to find a new club by Emirates Stadium bosses.

Interest from Galatasaray did not excite Martinelli but he is set to approve a lucrative move to Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal.

Globo Esporte say Martinelli has given the green light to the move having initially been reluctant to make the switch to Saudi Arabia.

It was reported over the weekend that Arsenal wanted around £60m for Martinelli but ESPN Brasil claim the fee could be no more than £40m.

Arsenal legend Ian Wright recently criticised the club’s treatment of Martinelli.

‘In respects to Martinelli and the way Martinelli has been treated at the moment it really makes me feel uncomfortable,’ Wright told Sky Sports after Arsenal’s win over Coventry.

‘Because he always gives 100 per cent, I’m not saying he’s the greatest, he’s really come up with some big moments for Arsenal, some big games, he’s scored some very important goals…

‘The way he’s been treated at the end here, I know they might want him out, and there’s a lot of people saying, “yeah, maybe it’s time for him to move on”, but there’s ways of doing that and it should suit him as well, how he wants to leave.

‘Not being in the squad, not being spoken to, doesn’t know what’s going on, yes, I do know this, again, not being involved in the Community Shield squad, he doesn’t know what’s happening, I think he’s got a year left [on his contract].

‘If you bring Vini [Vinicius Junior] in, that kind of level in, Martinelli can say to himself, “well, okay, they’ve brought him and Tzolis, I might be third [choice]”, but if you’re bringing Tzolis in, and he’s looking at Tzolis, you look at Madueke on the other [wing], you’re thinking to yourself, “I think I can still have it with these two, I still think I’ve got something to offer here”.

‘For him to be nowhere near it, it makes me feel sad for him. I’m just saying I think he’s done enough with this team, with this squad, to be treated with a little bit more respect than he’s being treated at the moment.’

Meanwhile, fellow Arsenal great Martin Keown has advised Arteta not to sell Martinelli as he closes in on a move to Saudi.

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