Arsenal decided not to sell star player to avoid 'a long-running summer saga'
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Ciaran Morrison
Wed 3 September 2025 15:45, UK
Arsenal’s transfer window could have descended into a saga if they had decided to force the sale of one star player.
The Gunners have started the new season with two wins and a defeat from their opening three Premier League fixtures.
Mikel Arteta signed eight new players across the summer including striker Viktor Gyokeres and Crystal Palace ace Eberechi Eze.
The Gunners made few significant sales with a flurry of departures on deadline day including Oleksandr Zinchenko joining Nottingham Forest on loan.
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The Daily Mail [3 September], stated that “Arsenal were open to selling Gabriel Martinelli.”
Arsenal put a £60million valuation on the Brazilian, but interest from club’s only reached the £40m mark.
Club’s not willing to reach Arsenal’s valuation of the 24-year-old, “deterred the club from pushing to sell him, to avoid a long-running saga.”
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Bayern Munich held interest in Martinelli, but the Brazilian remains at the Emirates with increased competition from Eze and Noni Madueke, who arrived at Arsenal from Chelsea.
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Football Insider Verdict
Arsenal are in a strong financial position, though amid their splurge of over £250m this summer, the sale of a star player for big money could have helped their cause further.
The Gunners are not known for selling players at high prices, but with the left flank stacked with options, sacrificing Martinelli for the right price could have been a good deal.
Martinelli has suffered lapses of inconsistencies and a lack of end product at times, with Bukayo Saka on the right flank far more used than the Brazilian on the left.
Gabriel MartinelliStatsAppearances227Goals51Assists29Gabriel Martinelli’s Arsenal stats in all competitions.
At 24, and with plenty of pace and talent, Martinelli still has worth in the Arsenal starting line-up, though he could face the axe amid Eze’s arrival.
With Eze settling into North London, the next few weeks could be crucial for Martinelli’s career at the club or Arsenal may revisit selling him in the January transfer window.