Ian Wright has hit out at Arsenal and Mikel Arteta over their decision to leave Gabriel Martinelli out of the squad for the 3-0 win over Coventry City on Friday night.
Arsenal got off to the perfect start in their opening game of the new Premier League season as goals from Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard sealed the victory over Frank Lampard’s side at the Emirates Stadium.
Martinelli, meanwhile, was left out of the squad completely as Arsenal are looking to sell the Brazilian winger before the end of the summer transfer window.
The 25-year-old, who has just a year left on his contract, was also omitted from Arteta’s squad for their victory over Manchester City in the Community Shield last Sunday.
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Martinelli was the subject of a £38 million bid from Galatasaray last week but the winger has informed Arsenal that he does not want a move to the Turkish league.
Wright now claims Martinelli is being left in the dark over his future and has criticised Arsenal for their handling of the situation.
‘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 City.
‘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.’
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