Gabriel Martinelli’s future at Arsenal has shifted from selection debate to proper transfer watch. Inter, Napoli and Roma are all being linked with him in the closing days of the window, while Arsenal remain open to a sale but have not held serious talks with any club. Ian Wright also said Martinelli’s treatment at the club makes him feel uncomfortable.

Arsenal's stance on Martinelli

The key point is that Arsenal are not actively closing the door on a sale. They are open to one, but the current position is still short of anything concrete, with no serious talks reported with interested clubs.

That leaves Martinelli in an awkward middle ground. He was left out of Arsenal’s matchday squad for the Premier League opener against Coventry and the Community Shield last weekend, and Ethan Nwaneri was named on the bench against Coventry ahead of him. For a player who has already scored 62 goals in all competitions for Arsenal, that is a notable shift in status.

The wider case against selling him is not hard to make on output alone. He scored just 1 Premier League goal last season, but he still finished 2025/26 with 11 goals and 7 assists in 52 appearances across all competitions. He also logged 2,384 minutes, so this was not a player pushed to the margins for the whole campaign.

Wright's criticism and the interest around him

Wright’s comments have pushed the story into the open. Speaking to Standard, the former Arsenal forward said: “In respect of Martinelli and the way Martinelli is being treated at the moment, it really makes me feel uncomfortable.” He also added: “He’s done enough with this team, with this squad, to be treated with a little bit more respect than he’s being at the moment.”

His view is part football judgement, part loyalty, but it does reflect how visible this situation has become. Arsenal have a player with 62 goals for the club, a mixed 2025/26 in front of goal, and a contract window that still has time to move quickly before September 1.

The listed suitors also matter here. Inter, Napoli and Roma are all in the frame, and Galatasaray were rebuffed earlier in the summer. Arsenal have not committed to keeping Martinelli, but unless the right replacement arrives, the move from outside interest to an actual sale still looks unfinished.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →