Gabriel Martinelli's Hat-Trick Sparks Al-Hilal Victory
Gabriel Martinelli did not just arrive in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night. He announced himself.
Al-Hilal’s new Brazilian forward ripped through Al-Taawoun in Buraidah, hitting a ruthless hat-trick in the seventh round of the Saudi Roshn League and snapping a personal drought that had stretched across continents and competitions.
A first Al-Hilal goal with heavy history
The moment came early. In the 18th minute, with Al-Hilal already in control, Martinelli reacted quickest to a rebound inside the box. One touch to steady himself, one clean finish. Simple on the eye, huge in context.
It was his first goal for Al-Hilal, arriving in just his third appearance since his summer move from Arsenal. For “the Leader”, it was a new signing finally cashing in on the club’s investment. For Martinelli, it was much more: his first club goal in seven months.
He had not scored at club level since 15 February, when he struck for Arsenal in a 4-0 win over Wigan Athletic in the fourth round of the FA Cup. Between then and tonight in Buraidah, just one goal had come – for Brazil, in a 2-1 victory over Japan in the round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
In league football, the wait had been even longer. His last league strike dated back almost a year, to 21 September 2025, in Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Manchester City in the fifth round of the Premier League.
One goal ended all of that. And once the dam broke, the flood followed.
Watkins, Summerville and a ruthless hat-trick
Al-Taawoun barely had time to regroup before Martinelli struck again. Two minutes before half-time, he timed his run perfectly to meet a through ball from English team-mate Ollie Watkins. Space opened up, the Brazilian surged clear, and he finished with the composure of a player who had never been away.
Al-Hilal’s third of the night. Martinelli’s second. The confidence that had been missing for months suddenly flowed.
Any hope Al-Taawoun had of a second-half response evaporated five minutes after the restart. Dutch winger Crysencio Summerville drove down the flank and drilled a low cross into the area. Martinelli arrived in stride and swept it home, completing his hat-trick in the 50th minute.
Three goals, three different types of finish, and a statement performance from a forward who had been searching for this kind of night since leaving north London.
It was his first hat-trick for Al-Hilal and his first in eight months, the last coming in Arsenal’s 4-1 win over Portsmouth on 11 January in the third round of the FA Cup.
From slow start to instant talisman?
Martinelli’s start in Saudi Arabia had been quiet. He came off the bench for his debut in the 2-0 win over Al-Shabab in the fifth round of the Roshn League, then started the 2-0 defeat to Neom without finding the net.
Those two games now feel like a distant prelude. In Buraidah, the Brazilian finally looked like the explosive forward Al-Hilal believed they were signing from Arsenal.
If this is the version of Gabriel Martinelli that stays, the Roshn League may have to brace itself.
