Gabriel Martinelli sends message to Arsenal and Mikel Arteta after transfer claims
Former Arsenal star Gabriel Martinelli scored an impressive hat-trick in his latest outing for Al-Hilal(Image: (Photo by Abdullah Ahmed/Getty Images))
Gabriel Martinelli scored a hat-trick for Al-Hilal in their dominant 6-0 victory over Al-Taawoun on Saturday evening. The Brazilian departed Arsenal in late August for £60million and bagged three goals in his third appearance for the Saudi Pro League side.
His first goal of the game arrived inside just 18 minutes when he reacted quickest to a loose ball in the box and subsequently fired into the bottom corner.
Former Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins had scored the opener and later assisted Martinelli's second just before half-time with the 25-year-old showing composure to beat the goalkeeper from close range after being played through on goal.
Martinelli then turned home a cutback to complete his hat-trick before being taken off in the 55th minute having done the damage for Simone Inzaghi.
In the lead up to his departure from north London, there was huge uncertainty surrounding his future with Ian Wright condemning the club for their lack of clarity on the topic.
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He said at the time: "With respect to Martinelli and the way he's being treated at the moment, it really makes me uncomfortable.
"He always gives 100 per cent, 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."
Gabriel Jesus, who has since joined Barcelona, has also come out firing and admitted that no one at the club told him anything.
When asked about the reaction to both exits, Arteta said on Friday: "Very surprised, to be fair, especially because with Gabi [Jesus] I had an individual talk in the dressing room. I don't know what words were said, it is fine.
Mikel Arteta left Gabriel Martinelli out of Arsenal's first two matchday squads
"The words we used for each other, it was all about gratitude. I don't know, it is OK. Sometimes I understand when you have to deliver bad news or news that people don't expect, those things [you can] react [to]."
Jesus has also made a strong start at Barca with his first goal arriving in the 5-1 over Feyenoord in the Champions League on Wednesday.
At the same time, Arsenal dominated Napoli and finally found the breakthrough late in the second half courtesy of Martin Odegaard's third goal of the season. The Gunners have also been strong defensively and that was also their third clean sheet already in this campaign.
Some of the funds acquired from selling Martinelli were seemingly used to bring in Ezri Konsa from Aston Villa after an injury to William Saliba.
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