Overview

• Arsenal were open to a sale near £60m, but reported interest reached only about £40m, leading the club to step away to avoid a drawn-out saga.
• Mikel Arteta publicly backed Martinelli’s role, saying the Brazilian remains a “very, very, very important” part of the frontline.
• Attacking additions Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke — plus other summer recruits such as Viktor Gyökeres — have intensified competition for minutes.
• Martinelli has not matched his 2022–23 peak and enters the new season under scrutiny after a prolonged dip in goals and assists.
• His deal runs to 2027 with an option for an extra year, and reports say no significant extension talks have taken place as performances this term shape his future.