Gabriel Martinelli's Emotional Arsenal Farewell Omits Mikel Arteta After £60m Al-Hilal Transfer
Gabriel Martinelli has officially moved from Arsenal to Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal in a record-breaking £60 million deal. The 25-year-old Brazilian winger ended his seven-year tenure at the Emirates Stadium after a reported fallout with manager Mikel Arteta.
Sudden Breakdown With Arteta Leads to Transfer
Despite playing a key role in Arsenal's historic Premier League title last season, Martinelli was suddenly left out of recent matchday squads. He missed the Community Shield win and the Premier League opener against Coventry City, with Arteta telling him he no longer fit into his tactical plans. This exclusion cleared the path for Martinelli's lucrative move to the Middle East. He turned down an offer from Turkish side Galatasaray before finalizing the deal with Al-Hilal.
Heartfelt Goodbye Leaves Out Arsenal Boss
After the transfer was announced, Martinelli posted a touching farewell on social media. His message thanked teammates, staff members including chefs, kit staff, doctors, doormen, security, media, cleaning teams, and physios, as well as the fans who supported him since 2019. Notably, there was no mention of Mikel Arteta in his acknowledgements.
"I can only thank the staff and my teammates... To Arsenal, thank you for believing in me and giving me the chance to show myself to the world," Martinelli wrote. "Most of all, I want to thank my family and my wife, who have been by my side throughout this entire journey, giving me all the emotional support I needed to overcome the challenges that only we truly know. It has been a long journey, too much history and now it has come to an end."
He ended the message with, "I'm writing this with tears in my eyes, so hard to put 7 years into words. From 35 to 11. Once a Gunner, Always a Gunner. Goodbye, and thank you again."
Unrest in Arsenal Dressing Room
Martinelli’s departure reportedly caused tension among Arsenal players, with some senior squad members disappointed over how he was sidelined. Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright expressed unease about the situation on Sky Sports, saying, "The way Martinelli is being treated at the moment, it really makes me feel uncomfortable."
Arsenal’s Rebuild on the Left Flank
Following Martinelli’s exit, Arsenal have moved quickly to strengthen their left wing. They signed Christos Tzolis for £34 million this summer and are using Eberechi Eze as backup. The club also made an unsuccessful attempt to sign Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior.
- Martinelli’s Premier League appearances: 191
- New club: Al-Hilal (Saudi Pro League)
- Manager at Al-Hilal: Simone Inzaghi
- Fellow new signings at Al-Hilal: Ollie Watkins, Crysencio Summerville
Next Chapter in Saudi Arabia
Martinelli joins a competitive Al-Hilal squad managed by Simone Inzaghi. The team is battling alongside Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr for the top spot in the Saudi Pro League. With his hefty price tag, expectations are high for Martinelli to make an immediate impact.
Upcoming Fixtures
- Saudi Pro League: Al Shabab vs Al Hilal, 4 Sept 2026, 20:00
- Premier League: Arsenal vs Chelsea, 6 Sept 2026, 17:30
