Ian Wright Criticizes Arsenal for Martinelli Exclusion Amid Transfer Talks
Arsenal opened their Premier League title defence with a statement win. A 3-0 cruise against Coventry City, goals from Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard, a comfortable Emirates night that looked like business as usual for Mikel Arteta’s side.
But one name was missing. Completely.
Gabriel Martinelli was nowhere to be seen – not in the XI, not on the bench, not even in the matchday squad. And that, according to club legend Ian Wright, is a problem.
A convincing win, an uncomfortable omission
On the pitch, Arsenal were ruthless. Saka struck early, Havertz added another, Odegaard wrapped it up. Frank Lampard’s Coventry never really laid a glove on them.
Off the pitch, the Martinelli situation overshadowed the gloss.
The 25-year-old Brazilian, into the final year of his contract, has been pushed to the margins. He was also left out of the squad that beat Manchester City in the Community Shield the previous Sunday. Two big games. Two total omissions.
Arsenal are actively looking to sell before the end of the summer transfer window. Galatasaray tested that stance with a £38 million bid last week. Martinelli rejected the idea of a move to Turkey, making it clear he does not want to head to the Super Lig.
Since then, silence. And exclusion.
Wright: “It makes me feel uncomfortable”
Speaking on Sky Sports after the win over Coventry, Wright did not hide his frustration at how the club are handling one of their hardest-working forwards.
“In respects to Martinelli and the way Martinelli has been treated at the moment it really makes me feel uncomfortable,” he said.
He pointed to the winger’s attitude and contribution over recent seasons.
“Because he always gives 100 per cent, I’m not saying he’s the greatest, he’s really come up with some big moments for Arsenal, some big games, he’s scored some very important goals… the way he’s been treated at the end here, I know they might want him out, and there’s a lot of people saying, ‘yeah, maybe it’s time for him to move on’, but there’s ways of doing that and it should suit him as well, how he wants to leave.”
The criticism cut deeper as Wright revealed that, from Martinelli’s side, there is confusion rather than clarity.
“Not being in the squad, not being spoken to, doesn’t know what’s going on, yes, I do know this, again, not being involved in the Community Shield squad, he doesn’t know what’s happening, I think he’s got a year left [on his contract].”
“He’s done enough to be treated with more respect”
For Wright, this is not just about selection. It’s about hierarchy, honesty and respect.
He argued that if Arsenal were upgrading the position with an undisputed superstar, the picture would at least make sense from the player’s perspective.
“If you bring Vini [Vinicius Junior] in, that kind of level in, Martinelli can say to himself, ‘well, okay, they’ve brought him and Tzolis, I might be third [choice]’,” Wright said.
The reality looks different. With the likes of Christos Tzolis and Noni Madueke competing in wide areas, Wright believes Martinelli would still back himself to fight for minutes.
“But if you’re bringing Tzolis in, and he’s looking at Tzolis, you look at Madueke on the other [wing], you’re thinking to yourself, ‘I think I can still have it with these two, I still think I’ve got something to offer here’.”
That’s what jars for him: not just that Martinelli might be moved on, but that he currently feels shut out.
“For him to be nowhere near it, it makes me feel sad for him.
“I’m just saying I think he’s done enough with this team, with this squad, to be treated with a little bit more respect than he’s being treated at the moment.”
A clean start for Arsenal, a messy dilemma for Arteta
Arsenal’s season could not have started much better on the scoreboard. The performance against Coventry was controlled, confident and clinical, the kind of opening-night display that fuels belief in another title push.
Behind that bright start, though, sits a thorny question for Arteta and the club hierarchy.
They have a 25-year-old winger, proven in big moments, in the final year of his deal. They have already turned to life without him on the pitch. The player has pushed back on at least one exit route. A club legend is publicly calling out the way the situation is being handled.
The result against Coventry sent a clear message about Arsenal’s ambitions this season.
The handling of Martinelli is sending another one entirely.
