Martinelli to Saudi Arabia? Al Hilal Close In on Arsenal Winger After Arteta Snub

Arsenal's Premier League title defence has been overshadowed by a dramatic and unexpected departure story, with Brazilian winger Gabriel Martinelli now closing in on a permanent move to Saudi Pro League giants Al Hilal.

According to multiple reports, manager Mikel Arteta has directly told the 25-year-old that his path back into regular first-team contention is limited, effectively instructing him to seek a new club before the transfer window closes. Martinelli has already been left out of the matchday squad for both of Arsenal's opening competitive fixtures this season, including the Gunners' 3-0 win over Coventry City.

Sources have indicated that talks between Arsenal and Al Hilal are progressing smoothly, with only a relatively small valuation gap left to bridge before a fee is finalised. Some reports place that gap at around £7m-£9m, with the overall package expected to land somewhere between £50m and £55m — a fee that would smash Arsenal's current transfer record, previously held by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's £35m move to Liverpool in 2017.

The financial terms on offer from Al Hilal are said to be transformative for Martinelli. Reports suggest the Saudi club is prepared to pay him in excess of $23m (around €20m) a year before tax, roughly doubling his current Arsenal salary and taking his weekly wage into the region of £300,000-plus.

It marks a striking U-turn from Martinelli's stance earlier in the summer, when he reportedly turned down interest from Turkish giants Galatasaray. Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte says he has since given the green light to the Saudi switch, despite some initial hesitation about a move away from Europe's top leagues.

The decision to move Martinelli on has reportedly not gone down well inside Arsenal's dressing room, with teammates said to be uncomfortable with how the situation has been handled. Former Gunner Ian Wright has been among those to publicly question the club's communication, suggesting Martinelli has been left in the dark about his standing at the club. Arteta, for his part, has stressed the importance of honest and direct conversations with players about their futures as part of normal football business.

Martinelli's fall from favour marks a stark change in fortunes for a player who made his Arsenal debut back in 2019 and has gone on to make close to 300 appearances for the club. He played a key role in Arsenal's run to last season's Champions League final and their first Premier League title since 2004, but his influence waned considerably as game time became harder to come by — he managed just a single Premier League goal last season, starting only 11 league matches.

Reports suggest Arsenal are also looking to protect their long-term interest in the player by including a sell-on clause of around 20% in any agreement, a common safeguard used when clubs sell talented young players to markets where resale value can be harder to track.

Arsenal's willingness to sanction the departure comes on the back of a busy summer in attack, with the arrival of Chris Tzolis from Club Brugge giving Arteta fresh options out wide and reducing his reliance on Martinelli as a starting option.

For Al Hilal, meanwhile, Martinelli would represent another marquee arrival in a squad already stocked with major names, including Moroccan international goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, Kalidou Koulibaly, Theo Hernandez, Ruben Neves and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. The club has also been credited with interest in other European stars, including West Ham's Crysencio Summerville and Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins, as the Saudi Pro League continues its aggressive recruitment push.

With the final transfer fee still being negotiated and no medical yet confirmed, Martinelli's Arsenal career appears to be entering its final days — a remarkable end to a seven-year spell that began with huge promise and is now closing with a record-breaking payday in the Middle East.