Ian Wright Criticizes Arsenal's Treatment of Gabriel Martinelli
Ian Wright has condemned the way Arsenal are handling Gabriel Martinelli as uncertainty over the winger’s future grows.
The Brazilian has been repeatedly linked with a move away from the Premier League champions this summer, with Galatasaray holding talks earlier in the window. Martinelli, though, has reportedly told Arsenal he does not want to leave for a league outside Europe’s top five, a stance that has only deepened the question marks around what comes next.
AS Roma are also interested, yet while his name swirls around the market, his presence on the pitch has vanished. 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.
In his place, summer signing Christos Tzolis has started both games and impressed, as Arsenal push to add yet another left-wing option to their already stacked attack.
That is exactly what troubles Wright.
Speaking on Sky Sports, the former Arsenal striker said:
“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 did not back down.
“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 replied: “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.”
For Wright, the issue is not simply competition for places, but the level of that competition and the message it sends.
“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’,” Wright explained. “But if you’re bringing in Tzolis and Madueke’s there, you’re thinking to yourself, ‘I’ve got something to offer here’.
“So for him to be nowhere near it, just makes me feel a bit sad for him. 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.”
Arsenal’s stance on Martinelli is still to fully reveal itself. Wright’s verdict, though, lays down a clear challenge: if this is the endgame for the Brazilian at the Emirates, how the club handle his exit will say as much about them as it does about him.
