Gabriel Martinelli's 5 best performances at Arsenal

Gabriel Martinelli's seven-year love affair with Arsenal Football Club is set to come to an end.

Signing as an 18-year-old from Brazilian regional football club Ituano back in 2019, the winger has grown from a boy to a man in North London, making 278 appearances for the Gunners and becoming a Premier League champion in the process. He emerged as a beacon of light in a dark time for Arsenal, and played an instrumental role in getting the English giants back to where they belong.

He's set to sign for Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal for around €70 million, in a deal which has Gunners supporters on the verge of tears.

The age-old saying 'don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened' certainly feels applicable. With that said, here's a look at the five best performances Martinelli produced in an Arsenal shirt.

Chelsea 2-2 Arsenal (2020)

In 2020, in Arsenal's bleak early days under Mikel Arteta, Martinelli announced himself to the world with a stunning solo goal at Stamford Bridge. Up until this point, noise around the player had only come from within. After this match in West London, the whole world knew Martinelli's name.

Pouncing on a loose ball headed clear by Shkodran Mustafi, the Gunners' winger showed electric pace to burst away from Emerson Palmieri and pick it up inside his own half, drive forward past an on-the-floor N'Golo Kante, before coolly slotting beyond Kepa Arrizabalga. Whilst there was an element of fortune about the goal, given Kante's slip, the then 18-year-old demonstrated his remarkable speed and composure in a pressurised atmosphere in that one moment.

This moment wasn't the only aspect of this performance that was impressive from the teenage Martinelli. The Gunners were reduced to ten men 26 minutes in when David Luiz hauled down Tammy Abraham inside the away side's box. The youngster was the natural man to be sacrificed given his inexperience, but Arteta opted to stick with the starlet for 90 minutes, as he worked his socks off to ensure Arsenal emerged with an unlikely point.

This was the first time Martinelli showcased his relentless work ethic on the pitch, broadcasting what he was all about to the on-watching Premier League.

Arsenal 3-2 Liverpool (2022)

When discussing his squad selection for the 2022 World Cup, former Brazil manager Tite said Martinelli gave him 'sleepless nights' after he'd watched the young wide forward produce an outstanding performance against Liverpool in the Premier League that season. The match the international coach was referring to was Arsenal's 3-2 victory over the Merseysiders in October of that year.

Martinelli opened the scoring after 58 seconds, sweeping past the imposing Alisson Becker after being slipped in by Martin Odegaard. This goal set the tone for an electrifying display from Arsenal's dynamic Brazilian.

He ran a dizzy Trent Alexander-Arnold ragged for the entire game, making endless driving runs up the byline, beating the England defender for pace consistently. He also created Arsenal's second goal, carrying the ball up the pitch before cutting onto his right foot and picking Bukayo Saka out for a tap-in at the back post.

When thinking of Martinelli's best performance in an Arsenal shirt, this game will always automatically spring to mind.

Arsenal 2-0 Sevilla (2023)

Arsenal's perfunctory 2-0 Champions League Group Stage victory over Sevilla in November 2023 won't be a fixture many remember, but it was one of Martinelli's highlight performances in a difficult 2023/24 season for him personally.

He was going through a challenging period when this match happened, but out of nowhere, he delivered a mesmerising showing. Completing nine (yes, 9) dribbles on the night, his destruction of Sevilla right-back Juanlu Sanchez (who has coincidentally just signed for Bournemouth) was almost disrespectful.

The Gunners negated their usual right-hand side bias on the night, instead feeding Martinelli over and over again to roast his opposite number.

Arsenal 2-1 Fulham (2025)

Another somewhat random game to select, but Martinelli showed the best of himself in a clash which is remembered for Saka's long-awaited return from injury. Arsenal beat Fulham 2-1 in April 2025, and Martinelli arguably dragged them to this victory.

With Saka only introduced in the second half, the former Ituano man took it upon himself to carry the Arsenal attack, with everything running through him. Creating five chances, taking three shots and managing 12 touches in the opposition box, this was one of the most creative displays the Emirates has witnessed from Martinelli.

He capped it off with a sublime assist for Saka, mid-air backheeling it to the Englishman to head home from a few yards out at the back post.

Real Madrid 1-2 Arsenal (2025)

Unlike the previous two performances, this is one Arsenal fans will universally remember. Martinelli produced one of the most iconic goals in the North London club's recent history, sprinting away from the Real Madrid defence in the last minute to secure the Gunners victory at the Bernabeu, and make the scoreline a stunning 5-1 on aggregate.

This came at the end of another industrious defensive display, working tirelessly to help 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly negate the threat of Rodrygo.

His goal sent the Arsenal away fans, located in the Bernabeu gods, into pandemonium. It'll never be forgotten amongst Gunners supporters.

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