Gabriel Martinelli's Emotional Arsenal Farewell Misses Mikel Arteta Amid £60m Al-Hilal Transfer
Gabriel Martinelli has sealed a club-record transfer from Arsenal to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal for £60 million. This marks the end of his seven-year tenure at the Emirates Stadium. The 25-year-old Brazilian winger was unveiled by Al-Hilal after finishing his medical earlier this week in Riyadh.
Tense Split with Mikel Arteta
The transfer follows a swift deterioration in Martinelli's relationship with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. Despite playing a role in Arsenal’s Premier League title win last season, Martinelli was sidelined from recent squads, missing key games including the Community Shield and the league opener against Coventry City.
Arteta reportedly informed Martinelli he was no longer part of his tactical plans, which opened the door for the lucrative move to Saudi Arabia. Martinelli, who had one year remaining on his contract, declined an offer from Turkish club Galatasaray before agreeing to join Al-Hilal.
Farewell Message Leaves Out Arteta
After the transfer was confirmed, Martinelli posted an emotional goodbye to Arsenal fans and staff on social media. His message thanked many people connected with the club but notably did not mention Mikel Arteta.
"I can only thank the staff and my teammates. Thank you to the chefs, kit staff, doctors, doormen, security staff, media team, cleaning staff, physios, and every single teammate who has been part of my story from 2019 until today. And to the fans, thank you for everything. Since my first day, you made me feel at home. Every time I stepped on the pitch, despite everything, I tried to give everything I had for this shirt. To Arsenal, thank you for believing in me and giving me the chance to show myself to the world."
"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."
"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."
Impact on Arsenal Dressing Room and Rebuild
Martinelli’s sudden departure has unsettled some members of the Arsenal squad. Several senior players expressed disappointment over his omission throughout the summer. Former striker Ian Wright shared his unease about Martinelli’s treatment during a Sky Sports interview.
To fill the void on the left flank, Arsenal have brought in Christos Tzolis for £34 million and are relying on Eberechi Eze as backup. They also made an unsuccessful attempt to sign Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior.
During his time in England, Martinelli appeared in 191 Premier League matches. Now, he joins a star-studded Al-Hilal side managed by Simone Inzaghi, alongside new teammates Ollie Watkins and Crysencio Summerville.
Next Steps for Arsenal and Martinelli
Arsenal will aim to move past any tensions as they defend their Premier League title. Arteta faces the challenge of integrating his revamped attack quickly to keep up their early season momentum.
Meanwhile, Martinelli begins a new chapter competing at the top of the Saudi Pro League, where Al-Hilal are locked in a tight race with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr. Coach Inzaghi expects Martinelli to make an immediate impact after his record transfer.
- Saudi Pro League Matches:
- Al Shabab vs Al Hilal: 4 Sept 2026, 20:00
- Premier League Match: Arsenal vs Chelsea: 6 Sept 2026, 17:30
