Gabriel and Martinelli Set for Arsenal Return Against Real Betis
Arsenal’s pre-season has been building quietly, methodically. On Wednesday night in Dublin, it should gain a little more bite.
Brazilian duo Gabriel and Gabriel Martinelli are expected to step back into the fold at the Aviva Stadium against Real Betis, after extended post-World Cup breaks kept them out of the early action. Both helped Brazil reach the last 16, both were ordered to rest, and both watched from afar as their team-mates eased past MK Dons in a behind-closed-doors win on July 25.
They rejoined the group in Spain last week, training with the squad ahead of the friendly against Girona. Mikel Arteta, though, resisted the temptation to rush them. Neither defender nor winger made the matchday squad as Arsenal cruised to a 4-1 victory.
That patience now looks set to pay off. With a handful of sessions in their legs and rhythm slowly returning, the pair are in line to feature in Dublin as the Gunners’ preparations edge towards full throttle.
Arteta’s managed minutes
Arteta’s approach to Girona offered a clear glimpse of his thinking. Piero Hincapie, Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres all started, all looked sharp, and all were withdrawn after just 30 minutes. This is pre-season on the manager’s terms: controlled, calculated, every minute on the pitch weighed against the months to come.
He could follow the same script with Gabriel and Martinelli against Betis. A start, a burst of intensity, then a handshake and an early exit. The priority is conditioning, not headlines.
Ben White’s situation underlines that caution. The right-back returned from a knee injury to play 60 composed minutes against Girona, his first appearance in three months. He came through unscathed, but that alone might be enough for Arteta to ease off and protect him, rather than risk overloading him so soon.
If White is held back, youngster Marli Salmon stands ready at right-back. With Jurrien Timber doubtful, the academy product could find himself thrown into a prominent role again, a reminder that these games are not just about stars returning, but about futures being tested.
Midfield chances for the next wave
In midfield, the picture is shaped as much by absences as by options.
Club captain Martin Odegaard is due back this week after his own post-World Cup break, yet the lack of training time means he is highly unlikely to feature against Betis. That opens the door once more for Ethan Nwaneri, who continues to turn heads with his composure and creativity.
Nwaneri should again operate in the engine room, most likely alongside Havertz and Myles Lewis-Skelly. It is a youthful, fluid combination born out of necessity. Martin Zubimendi, Eberechi Eze, Declan Rice and Mikel Merino are all still on holiday, while the club’s bid for Bruno Guimaraes has already been knocked back by Newcastle. For now, Arteta leans on promise rather than established depth.
Havertz, carefully managed against Girona, offers experience and structure around the youngsters. Lewis-Skelly brings energy and drive, Nwaneri the eye for a pass. These are the nights when a manager learns who can carry responsibility when the senior spine is missing.
Martinelli to reclaim his flank
Up front, the Girona win produced its own stories. Max Dowman and summer signing Christos Tzolis both found the net in the 4-1 victory, each staking a claim for more minutes as pre-season unfolds.
Yet the return of Martinelli changes the dynamic on the left. The Brazilian is expected to reclaim his favoured wing role, which could see Tzolis make way to accommodate him. For Arteta, the priority is simple: get his key attacker back into rhythm, back into those familiar patterns of aggressive runs and direct dribbling that stretch defences and tilt games.
Dowman’s goal keeps him firmly in the conversation, but the hierarchy is clear. When the first-choice wide men are ready, they play.
Arsenal arrive in Dublin with bodies returning, youngsters pushing, and selection puzzles slowly taking shape. This is not yet the finished article. It is the rehearsal, the fine-tuning, the careful layering of minutes and understanding.
Against Betis, with Gabriel anchoring the back line and Martinelli driving at full-backs again, the Gunners move one step closer to the version of themselves that will have to withstand the demands of the season to come.
