Ian Wright Criticizes Arsenal's Treatment of Gabriel Martinelli

Ian Wright has condemned the way Arsenal are handling Gabriel Martinelli as doubts over the winger’s future continue to swirl.

The Brazilian has been at the centre of transfer noise all summer. Galatasaray held talks earlier in the window, while AS Roma have also been credited with interest. Yet Martinelli has, according to reports, made it clear he does not want to leave for a league outside Europe’s top five, throwing another layer of uncertainty over what comes next.

What is clear is that he is currently on the outside looking in.

Martinelli was left out of the squad for Arsenal’s Community Shield win over Manchester City and again for Friday night’s victory over Coventry City. New signing Christos Tzolis started and impressed in both games, as Arsenal explore bringing in another left-wing option to strengthen their attack.

For Wright, that picture does not sit right.

“With respect to Martinelli and the way he’s being treated at the moment, it really makes me uncomfortable.

“He always gives 100%, we’re not saying he’s the greatest, but he’s come up with some big moments for Arsenal in big games, and the way he’s being treated at the end here – I know they might want him out and there’s a lot of guys saying it’s time for him to move on, but there’s ways of doing that should suit him as well.”

Pressed on what he meant by “the way he’s being treated”, Wright pointed directly at the recent omissions.

“Not being in the squad tonight, not being spoken to, doesn’t know what’s going on,” he said.

Asked if he was certain about that, Wright doubled down: “Yes I do know this, I know this. Not being involved in the Community Shield squad, not being involved tonight, he doesn’t know what’s happening, he’s got a year left.”

The former striker then drew a sharp contrast between the level of signings that might naturally push a player down the pecking order and the current situation.

“If you bring Vini in, that kind of level, Martinelli can say to himself, ‘well okay they’ve brought him in and Zsolis, I might be third’. But if you’re bringing in Tzolis and Madueke’s there, you’re thinking to yourself, ‘I’ve got something to offer here’.”

That, for Wright, is the crux: a player who believes he still has a genuine case to start, yet finds himself nowhere near the picture.

“So for him to be nowhere near it, just makes me feel a bit sad for him,” Wright added. “I think he’s done enough in this squad to be treated with a bit more respect than he’s been treated at the moment.”

With one year left on his deal and pre-season already sending a loud message about where he stands, Arsenal and Martinelli are drifting towards a decisive moment.