The 10 things Gabriel Martinelli mentions in brutal Mikel Arteta snub statement
Gabriel Martinelli has not mentioned Mikel Arteta in his goodbye message to Arsenal.(Image: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
Former Arsenal man Gabriel Martinelli mentioned 10 things ahead of Mikel Arteta in his emotional goodbye statement to Arsenal.
The Brazilian joined Saudi side Al-Hilal on Thursday for a £60 million fee. It brings to a seven-year stay at the club, after he moved from Ituano in 2019.
During his time at Arsenal, Martinelli played 278 times, scoring 62 goals and providing 36 assists. He was part of the squad that lifted the Premier League title last season, making 30 league appearances throughout the season, although he was in and out of the starting XI, with Leandro Trossard and Eberechi Eze often preferred.
The summer arrival of Christos Tzolis was likely to see Martinelli’s game time diminish even more this season, leading to him completing a move away.
He was unveiled by Al-Hilal on Thursday, with the transfer window in the country remaining open until October 12.
Following the announcement, Martinelli took to social media to send an emotional message to Arsenal, but appeared to snub a mention for Arteta
In the statement, he made sure to thank 10 different areas of the staff at both the Emirates Stadium and the Sobha Reality Training Centre. “I can only thank the staff and my team-mates,” he wrote.
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“Thank you to the chefs, kit staff, doctors, doormen, security staff, media team, cleaning staff, physios, and every single teammate who has been part of my story from 2019 until today. Thank you to everyone who helped me grow during this journey.”
In all of the pictures posted, featuring members of staff and team-mates, not one features Arteta.
It comes after the 25-year-old was left out of the Arsenal squad completely for both the Community Shield win over Manchester City, and the opening two Premier League games of the season.
That snub was criticised by club legend Ian Wright. "The way Martinelli is being treated at the moment, it really makes me feel uncomfortable,” he told Sky Sports following the opening day win over Coventry City.
"I know they might want him out, and a lot of people might say, 'yeah, it's time for him to move him on'. But there's ways of doing that and it should suit him as well, how he wants to leave.
"Not being involved in the squad, not being spoken to, he doesn't know what's going on. And yes, I know this - he doesn't know what is happening.
"He's done enough with this squad to be treated with a little bit more respect than he's being treated with at the moment."
Gabriel Martinelli has left Arsenal.(Image: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire)
"Not being involved in the squad, not being spoken to, he doesn't know what's going on. And yes, I know this - he doesn't know what is happening.
"He's done enough with this squad to be treated with a little bit more respect than he's being treated with at the moment."
As reported by football.london, Arteta did communicate with Martinelli over his lack of inclusion in the matchday squads. There was however, some uncertainty from Martinelli over the stage of any potential exit from Arsenal.
The Gunners did try to further strengthen their options in Martinelli’s position in the final days of the transfer window, but weren’t able to complete late moves for the likes of Julian Alvarez or Malick Fofana. The club did, however, always intend to sell Martinelli even if they weren’t able to bring in reinforcements.
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