Fans read the writing on the wall as Arsenal’s duo sit out the Shield

Arsenal lifted the Community Shield while Gabriel Martinelli and Ethan Nwaneri watched from a distance, their uneasy stare captured in a Picture by X as the rest of Arsenal’s squad celebrated the win.

Ahead of the match, the Premier League rule allowing managers to name only nine players in addition to their starting XIs at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff left Arsenal’s head coach Mikel Arteta ‘saddened’. The rule meant the two attackers were omitted from Arsenal’s clash against Manchester City and did not even make the substitutes bench.

First‑half fireworks

Despite the absence of Martinelli and Nwaneri, Arsenal coped perfectly well when Riccardo Calafiori fired the English champions in front after just 23 seconds, a goal recorded in a Picture by Getty.

Before the break, Kai Havertz and club captain Martin Ødegaard struck either side of half‑time, widening the deficit against a City side led by Enzo Maresca in his first official capacity.

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Celebrations and speculation

When the final whistle blew, Arsenal’s players gathered around Ødegaard on the podium to hold the Community Shield aloft, while a video showed Martinelli and Nwaneri standing apart until Gabriel Magalhães eventually persuaded them to join the festivities.

Fans took to X, posting that the pair were “GONE”, “LEFT OUT OF THE SQUAD” and “borderline refusing to go over for the celebrations until Big Gabi called them over”. Another user wrote, “Just get them gone man, £80m right there and a new attacking signing”.

This summer, Galatasaray and Napoli have been linked with Martinelli, who arrived from Ituano in 2019 and now enters the final 12 months of his contract. Hale End product Nwaneri has attracted interest from Serie A giants AC Milan, while Arteta said, “I want him to be at the club… But we have to think about the medium and long term. Ethan needs to play football. If he stays here, we must be able to guarantee him those minutes, otherwise it won’t be beneficial for either side.” Nwaneri has four years remaining on his deal.

Supporters continue to Add their voices to the debate, underscoring how the squad‑size rule and the duo’s exclusion have ignited rumours that their days at the Emirates may be numbered.