Gabriel Martinelli Shines with Hat-Trick for Al-Hilal
Gabriel Martinelli did not just arrive in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night. He announced himself.
The Brazilian forward, still finding his feet at Al-Hilal after his summer move from Arsenal, exploded into life in Buraidah with a ruthless hat-trick against Al-Taawoun in the seventh round of the Saudi Roshn League, snapping a long, uncomfortable scoring drought in emphatic style.
Drought over in 18 minutes
Eighteen minutes into the game, the wait finally ended.
Martinelli reacted first inside the box, alive to a rebound that spilled loose in the penalty area. One touch to steady himself, one to guide it home. Simple on the eye, heavy in meaning.
It was his first goal for Al-Hilal, coming in just his third appearance for the club. It was also his first at club level in seven months, a stretch that had started to hang over him.
His last goals for Arsenal had come back on 15 February, in a 4-0 win over Wigan Athletic in the fourth round of the FA Cup. Since then, only one strike had carried his name: a goal for Brazil in the 2-1 victory over Japan in the round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
At league level, the wait had been even longer. He had not scored in a domestic league match since 21 September 2025, when he netted in Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Manchester City in the fifth round of the Premier League.
All of that context sat behind that 18th-minute finish. One swing of his boot, and the narrative began to shift.
From relief to dominance
Once the first went in, the old Martinelli started to reappear.
Just before half-time, in the 43rd minute, he struck again. English forward Ollie Watkins slid a precise through ball into space, and Martinelli did the rest, bursting clear of the defence and finishing with the confidence of a player who had never been away.
That goal made it three for Al-Hilal on the night and two for their new No. 11. The anxiety of the previous months had turned into something else entirely: control, rhythm, threat.
Al-Taawoun could feel it. So could everyone watching.
Five minutes after the restart, he completed the job.
In the 50th minute, Dutch winger Crysencio Summerville drove down the flank and drilled a low cross into the area. Martinelli arrived at exactly the right moment, sweeping the ball home with minimal fuss to seal his hat-trick.
Three goals, each different, each sharper than the last.
A first for Al-Hilal, a reminder from Arsenal days
This was Martinelli’s first hat-trick for Al-Hilal and his first in eight months. The previous one had come in familiar colours: Arsenal’s 4-1 win over Portsmouth on 11 January, in the third round of the FA Cup.
Since then, the story had been about missed chances, reduced minutes, and a long move away from north London to Riyadh. On Saturday in Buraidah, that storyline was torn up.
His Al-Hilal career had started quietly. He came off the bench in the 2-0 win over Al-Shabab in the fifth round of the Roshn League, then started but failed to score in the 2-0 defeat to Neom.
This time, there was no hesitation, no half-steps. Just a forward playing on the front foot again, turning a dry spell into a statement performance.
Al-Hilal signed Gabriel Martinelli to change games and decide nights like this. On only his third outing, he finally looked every inch that signing – and the Roshn League has been put on notice.
