Gabriel Martinelli leaves Arsenal having failed to reach his full potential

Gabriel Martinelli has left Arsenal to join Al Hilal after spending the last seven years in North London and despite departing as a Premier League champion, fans can't help but feel that he failed to reach his full potential while at the club.

Having joined as an 18-year-old from Brazilian fourth division side Ituano in 2019, the winger was a huge gamble signing, but it soon paid off as he became one of the best wide players in the Premier League only for it to all come falling down.

He reached a peak at just 22-years-old before constant drops in form led to his eventual departure from the Gunners as he struggle to hit the heights he seemed destined to at the Emirates Stadium.

Gabriel Martinelli leaves Arsenal having failed to reach his full potential

Upon signing for Arsenal ahead of the 2019/20 season, Martinelli was an unheard-of young talent who had scored six goals in 17 senior appearances for Ituano, but that soon changed as he burst onto the scene in North London.

After making his debut in a season-opening 1-0 win away to Newcastle, the Brazilian was handed opportunities in the Carabao Cup and Europa League and he certainly took them, scoring seven goals in seven appearances by the end of October 2019.

His form continued after Unai Emery was sacked with Mikel Arteta appointed as his replacement, announcing himself to the Premier League with three goals, including an incredible finish from a brilliant run against Chelsea. However, a long-term knee injury ended his campaign prematurely, meaning he finished his debut season with 10 goals in 26 appearances.

That issue and an ankle problem kept Martinelli unavailable for much of the following term as he scored just twice in only 22 games throughout the 2020/21 season, but he managed to bounce back to become a crucial part of Arteta's setup in the next year.

He took the role as first-choice on the left wing for much of the 2021/22 campaign and his performances continued to improve as he netted six goals and provided six assists in 36 matches across all competitions as he helped the Gunners secure a return to Europe with a fifth-place finish.

Martinelli hit what eventually turned out to be his peak in the 2022/23 season when Arsenal defied expectations to not only qualify for the Champions League for the first time in seven years, but also mount a convincing title challenge.

The Brazilian was a key figure in the chase for the Premier League as he scored 15 goals and provided six assists in 36 league appearances, playing 46 in all competitions, and that saw him claim an English top flight record.

His 15 strikes meant he equalled Roberto Firmino's tally for the highest number of goals scored by a Brazilian in a single season, which was eclipsed by Igor Thiago with 22 last year. Martinelli's brilliance and composure in front of goal wasn't enough however as the Gunners lost out on the title to Manchester City.

He continued as Arteta's primary option on the left wing for the 2023/24 campaign with Leandro Trossard providing reliable cover off the bench and his first goal came in an historic moment for his manager and the club. On 8 October, he scored a late winner to claim his side's first league victory over Man City since December 2015.

Martinelli failed to continue that form though as his performances dropped, ending the season with eight goals and five assists in 44 appearances as Arsenal missed out on the league prize once again.

The 2024/25 term offered Arteta's side the chance to finally end their league title drought and provided their number 11 with an opportunity to improve his form. Neither could be achieved though as the Gunners finished second for the consecutive season, and Martinelli's slump continued.

His scoring form was better with 10 goals to his name from 51 matches, but his general attacking performances on the pitch left a lot to be desired as he no longer looked like the deadly and skilful Brazilian that terroised defences just two years prior.

Despite potential for a move away from North London, Martinelli remained with Arsenal for the 2025/26 season and once again, he failed to improve massively and that subsequently led to his departure.

He scored a crucial equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Man City in September and enjoyed a great run of form in the Champions League, but as the year went on his performances continued to be on a downward trend and while he did finally end the season as a Premier League champion, his Gunners career was in significant danger, which proved to be real as he ultimately left for Al Hilal.

From being a surprise Brazilian wonderkid to breaking records as one of the league's top goalscorers to then struggling to find the back of the net and beat defenders. Martinelli looked so promising at the start of his time with Arsenal and that continued over the coming years, but he then found himself failing to perform at his best on the pitch.

Now he has moved to Saudi Arabia, where a number of players past their peak go to earn a good payday before retirement, but Martinelli is another of the many still promising younger footballers to have joined a league that does not compare to the challenge of the Premier League and Europe's top divisions.

He may thrive in the Saudi Pro League, but against weaker opposition, it is a far less impressive feat than what he could have achieved with Arsenal if his form didn't slump. Martinelli never reached his full potential as a Gunner and he could have done so much more in the famous red and white.

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