Advertisement
Why Arsenal could offload Martinelli amid links to Vinicius Jr
28th July, 2026 03:10 PM
Gabriel Martinelli could be nearing the end of his time at Arsenal as the club intensifies efforts to bring Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior to the Emirates.
Reports indicate that the Brazilian forward has been made available to a number of clubs in Italy, with AS Roma emerging as one of the teams informed about his situation. Arsenal’s growing interest in Vinicius is believed to be a major factor behind the uncertainty surrounding Martinelli’s future.
According to reports from Italy, intermediaries have been sounding out potential buyers for Martinelli since early July 2026. Roma have reportedly become increasingly interested after missing out on their initial attacking target, Crysencio Summerville.
The biggest obstacle to any deal is said to be Martinelli’s reported £6 million (Ksh1.05 billion) annual salary. The winger remains under contract with Arsenal until 2027, while the club also has the option to extend his stay by another year.
Why Martinelli could be offloaded
Although Martinelli produced key displays in Europe and scored Brazil’s winning goal against Japan during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, he struggled for consistent Premier League game time last season, making just over 1,000 minutes of league appearances.
Due to a lack of playing time at the Emirates for the Brazilian, Arsenal’s transfer activity points towards significant changes in the attacking department.
The club has already strengthened the left wing by signing Christos Tzolis in a £34 million (Ksh5.95 billion) deal, while manager Mikel Arteta is reportedly determined to secure the signature of Vinicius Junior.
The North London side are believed to be exploring the possibility of landing the Real Madrid star and could even consider submitting a British record transfer offer should the opportunity arise.
If Vinicius joins Arsenal, Martinelli’s chances of becoming a regular starter would be greatly reduced. Tzolis has already increased competition on the left, Bukayo Saka remains the automatic choice on the opposite flank, and Vinicius would almost certainly become the first-choice option on the left wing.
From Arsenal’s perspective, allowing Martinelli to leave in order to bring in one of world football’s top attackers could be viewed as a necessary move to raise more funds in the transfer market. Vinicius has consistently delivered at the highest level and is regarded as a player capable of strengthening Arsenal’s ambitions of competing for every major trophy.
While Martinelli still has the quality to succeed at the highest level, Arsenal’s recruitment strategy suggests his future at the club is far from certain, with the arrivals of Tzolis and the pursuit of Vinicius signalling a possible changing of the guard in Arteta’s squad.
