Martinelli's Arsenal farewell omits Arteta as £60m Al-Hilal move is confirmed

Gabriel Martinelli departed Arsenal for Al-Hilal in a £60 million deal confirmed on Thursday, closing a seven-year chapter at the club — and his public goodbye conspicuously left out manager Mikel Arteta. The 25-year-old Brazilian had undergone his medical in Saudi Arabia earlier in the week before being officially unveiled by the Riyadh club.

Arsenal moved Martinelli on after signing Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge, with the Belgian winger set to compete with Ebere Eze for the left-wing berth. Martinelli had also been linked with a move to Turkey before Al-Hilal secured his signature.

The club marked his exit with a brief tribute on social media: “Forever a Gunner. The club can confirm that Gabriel Martinelli has joined Al-Hilal on a permanent deal. Thank you for everything and best of luck, Gabi.”

Martinelli’s own farewell post was notably more personal — and pointed. He thanked chefs, kit staff, doctors, physios, security staff, and every teammate from his arrival in 2019 through to his departure, but did not reference Arteta by name or title.

“I can only thank the staff and my teammates,” he wrote. “Thank you to everyone who helped me grow during this journey. And to the fans, thank you for everything. Since my first day, you made me feel at home. Every time I stepped on the pitch, despite everything, I tried to give everything I had for this shirt.”

He closed the message with an emotional sign-off: “I’m writing this with tears in my eyes, so hard to put 7 years into words. From 35 to 11. Once a Gunner, Always a Gunner. Goodbye, and thank you again.”

The omission of Arteta’s name carries weight given the backdrop to his exit. Arsenal legend Ian Wright had publicly criticised the club’s handling of Martinelli in the build-up to his departure, saying the situation made him feel “uncomfortable.” Wright made the remarks after Arsenal’s opening pre-season fixture against Coventry City, suggesting the winger had not been treated well behind closed doors.

Martinelli joined Arsenal as a teenager in 2019 and went on to make over 200 appearances for the club, contributing to back-to-back Premier League title challenges. His move to the Saudi Pro League marks a significant shift in trajectory for a player who, at 25, had been considered a long-term fixture in the Gunners’ attack.