As Arsenal Hunt for More Creativity Out Wide, Should They Stick or Twist With Gabriel Martinelli? ...Middle East

With reported interest from Bayern Munich and summer transfer speculation brewing, Arsenal face a decision on Gabriel Martinelli. Their attack needs a refresh, but does that mean moving on from the talented Brazilian?

The main transfer narrative surrounding Arsenal this summer has centred on their search for a striker. After their Premier League and Champions League title challenges faltered, the Gunners’ fruitless season was largely blamed on the lack of a clinical finisher.

However, many Arsenal fans will tell you that an equally frustrating issue was the Gunners’ inability to create enough chances. This was of course exacerbated by a significant absence for Bukayo Saka, injuries and variable form from both Martin Ødegaard and Kai Havertz, the inconsequential contribution of Saka’s back-up, loanee Raheem Sterling, and the inconsistency of the left-sided duo, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli, who shared minutes throughout the season.

Arsenal averaged three shots per game fewer in 2024-25 compared to 2023-24 – a 17% reduction in total shots overall. To make matters worse, their conversion rate dropped too, meaning they needed eight shots for every goal in 2024-25 compared to seven per goal in 2023-24. Perhaps linked to that drop in efficiency, their expected goals (xG) per shot has dropped consistently across the last three seasons from 0.122 in 2022-23, to 0.118 in 2023-24, and 0.113 per shot last season.

In essence, they attempted fewer shots, with on average lower quality, and converted them at a lower rate.

So, in addition to needing a striker, a back-up goalkeeper, and a central midfield replacement for Thomas Partey and Jorginho, Arsenal have also been heavily linked with a number of wide forwards to boost their attacking creativity.

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Rafael Leão, Rodrygo, Antoine Semenyo and Anthony Gordon are all names that have been mooted alongside long-term target, Nico Williams – though the Athletic Bilbao winger now seems set to join Barcelona – as possible recruits to come in and offer more potency and creativity to Arsenal’s left-hand side, to match the dynamism offered by Saka on their right.

There had been speculation that Trossard might depart for Saudi Arabia to help fund these moves and free up space in the squad, but recent reports suggest he may instead sign a new and improved contract. Meanwhile, last weekend, news broke that Bayern Munich are interested in signing Martinelli.

The Brazilian joined Arsenal in the summer of 2019 at just 18 years old. After two seasons on the fringes, he became an established first-team player in 2021-22. Martinelli impressed as Arsenal unexpectedly challenged for the title the following season, scoring 15 Premier League goals and assisting five more, and he looked set to kick on as a regular for both Arsenal and at international level with Brazil.

But as the table below shows, Martinelli’s progress has stalled somewhat. While development is rarely linear and many people feel that the Brazilian still has a lot to offer, some Arsenal fans are now wondering whether his plateau over the last two seasons is more of a permanent ceiling rather than a temporary dip.

Looking at Martinelli’s xG per 90, it is largely unchanged over the last three seasons, but he had fewer shots per 90 in 2024-25 than in previous campaigns. His minutes-per-chance-created rate also dropped.

There was an uptick in his performances towards the end of the season that improved these numbers, with the Brazilian even playing a couple of cameos as a striker, but Arsenal’s interest in other wide players for the left-hand side will not have been reduced by Martinelli’s short-term form.

Arsenal had been linked with Leroy Sané before the German agreed to leave Bayern for Galatasaray, but what about the other candidates rumoured to replace Martinelli?

A quick look at the numbers posted by the players Arsenal have supposedly been interested in suggests none of them would necessarily represent an upgrade.

Martinelli had the best minutes-per-goal rate among them and marginally better expected goals per game. Rafael Leão is probably the most creative of the group with the most assists, the best expected assist rate per 90 minutes and the best rate of chances created per game. And all that in a season where he hasn’t reached his best form.

Perhaps Nico Williams offers more long-term potential at just 22 years old, compared to the other targets, who are aged between 24 and 26. There’s also an argument that Leão, Williams, Gordon and Semenyo could improve significantly with better players around them, given that they currently play for sides arguably weaker than Arsenal.

It’s possible that Arsenal are eyeing a deal to sell Martinelli for a substantial fee, sign a replacement at a lower cost, and reinvest the profit elsewhere without reducing the level of performance on the pitch.

But they can’t forget what they have. Martinelli is a proven Brazil international, linked with one of Europe’s top clubs, who, aged just 24, arguably has his best years ahead of him.

Manager Mikel Arteta certainly seems to trust Martinelli’s threat in attack and his defensive discipline. The winger made more runs in behind defences than any other Arsenal player (166) last season and tracked back more times than any other Arsenal forward (85 in total or 3.3 times per 90).

Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp certainly was a fan of Martinelli once saying: “Martinelli’s … a talent of the century. He’s an incredible striker.” And at a later point he noted: “Martinelli, by the way, everyone should remember that name. Outstanding player.”

In fact, Martinelli’s style would likely have fitted perfectly into the current Liverpool team. When looking at runs from wide forwards in behind last season, Mohamed Salah and Luis Díaz feature in the top five, and Martinelli appears in the top 10.

Perhaps Arsenal are now looking for a different kind of forward, given they tend to play a more measured and controlled build-up style, while Martinell’s most successful period in 2022-23 came in a team that played with more attacking verve and pace, but were more susceptible to counter-attacks. It was defensive deficiencies that ultimately cost them the title at the end of that season.

At the same time, last season it was Arsenal’s lack of attacking strength that blunted their title challenge, while in defence they had the best record in the division. For Arteta, the challenge is now finding the right balance. Leaning into Martinelli’s pace and direct running could help Arsenal become less predictable and more dangerous in attack.

As his Opta player radar shows, Martinelli gets into the box consistently; what’s missing is sharper decision-making: more end product, getting shots off quicker and finding the right pass. If Arteta can help him marry his physical gifts with better end product, more goals will surely follow.

There’s also a more superstitious reason Arsenal may be reluctant to part with Martinelli or Gabriel Jesus: the Gunners have never lost a Premier League game in which either has scored. Martinelli has netted in 37 league games for Arsenal, winning 30 and drawing seven of those. Jesus, meanwhile, holds the Premier League record for the longest unbeaten streak in games where he has scored, currently at 62 matches.

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Arsenal’s search for added firepower this summer may tempt them to cash in on Martinelli and chase something new. But replacing him won’t guarantee improvement, and the numbers suggest some of the targets they’ve been rumoured to be interested in might only offer small gains, while also coming with their own risks.

Arteta must decide whether to gamble on a new face or double down on developing a player who, with slight tweaks in style of play, might already be the solution they’re looking for.

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As Arsenal Hunt for More Creativity Out Wide, Should They Stick or Twist With Gabriel Martinelli? Opta Analyst.

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