Martinelli’s £60m exit clouds Arsenal’s Premier League future

Brazilian forward Gabriel Martinelli turned down a Premier League suitor in the summer before sealing a £60 million move to Al‑Hilal, ending his seven‑year spell at Arsenal in early September after Mikel Arteta told him he was no longer in the club’s plans.

The transfer guarantees the Gunners a fixed £60 million, while Martinelli’s weekly earnings in Saudi Arabia dwarf the reported £180,000 he received in England. The deal makes him Arsenal’s most lucrative sale to date.

Arsenal’s restructuring and Premier League triumph

Arsenal underwent a massive restructuring last season and, as a result, lifted the Premier League trophy. Martinelli’s departure therefore represents the club’s biggest‑ever sale, a move that still generated substantial revenue for the Gunners. The restructuring was cited by his agent as a factor in the timing of the exit.

Agent Marcos Casseb outlines offers and motivations

Marcos Casseb told Brazilian outlet Itatiaia Esporte that the forward had offers from Italian clubs, German clubs and unnamed Premier League sides, but he needed a change of scenery. “He also wanted to clear his head a bit, to change scenery,” Casseb said, adding that the player felt it was the right moment to move on. The agent stressed that the move to the biggest club in Asia was driven by the ambition of the project.

Gunners legend Ian Wright criticised the decision, arguing the club should have treated the 25‑year‑old with more respect. Wright’s comments reflected a broader disappointment among some Arsenal supporters.

Al‑Hilal, described by Casseb as the biggest club in Asia, has assembled a youthful squad featuring three World Cup players and three players under the age of 27. He noted that Arab football is now focusing on lowering the league’s average age, a trend that has attracted considerable attention.

Martinelli’s exit not only provides Arsenal with a guaranteed £60 million but also underscores the growing allure of ambitious projects in Saudi Arabia for European talent.