Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli sale to Al Hilal reportedly won’t be finalised by tonight’s transfer deadline, though it’s still on.
This is because the Brazil international can put the finishing touches on his move before the Saudi Pro League’s deadline, as their transfer window is on a different schedule.
See below for details as Gunnerblog of the Athletic says Martinelli’s exit is still on, with the 25-year-old set to undergo his medical with Al Hilal tomorrow…
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? Gabriel Martinelli’s move to Al-Hilal remains on course, but will not be completed before Tuesday’s 11pm #EPL deadline.
Transfer deadline in Saudi Arabia is on Sept 6. Martinelli set to undergo a medical on Weds before signing 4 yr deal.@TheAthleticFC… pic.twitter.com/gPUi9T2hVO
— gunnerblog (@gunnerblog) September 1, 2026
“Gabriel Martinelli’s move to Al-Hilal remains on course, but will not be completed before Tuesday’s 11pm #EPL deadline. Transfer deadline in Saudi Arabia is on Sept 6. Martinelli set to undergo a medical on Weds before signing 4 yr deal,” Gunnerblog posted on X.
This follows Arsenal and Al Hilal agreeing for Martinelli to move for a £60m fee, as previously reported by the Athletic.
Arsenal taking a risk with Gabriel Martinelli sale
Arsenal fans probably would have all been in agreement about the need to bring in an upgrade on Martinelli this summer.
However, with the Gunners now surely running out of time to get a significant signing in, it seems a bit risky to still be allowing Martinelli to leave.
Even if Martinelli hasn’t quite been at his best in recent times, he’s still a proven Premier League forward with the pace and goal threat to make a difference.
As much as this might not sound like a huge compliment to Martinelli, he’s better than nothing.
Arsenal have already let Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus leave, while Ethan Nwaneri has moved on loan to Borussia Dortmund.
If Martinelli goes as well, with Christos Tzolis the only attacking signing coming in, that leaves Mikel Arteta worryingly short in the final third.
That deal must be called off as Liverpool called off Gapko deal. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LOOSE MARTINELLI WITHOUT GOOD REPLACEMENT. Our game against Aston Villa said it all.
I don’t think Arsenal really wanted to sell Martinelli. It was because he refused to extend his remaining 1 year contract and was going to run it down to leave next year for free!
(Unless they can persuade him to extend his contract for another 2 years!, it maybe too late)
On a different player, why didn’t Arsenal offer Chelsea £90m Zubimendi plus £30m for Enzo Fernandez?
he has 1 year extension if club want to.
If Martinelli indeed refused to sign a new contract it was a no brainer to sell him considering he was bought for only 7M pounds.
Arteta’s thinking is that Tzolis would come around after his only poor showing and Ebz would be able to relieve him like he did against Villa; not a like-for-like but he provides a different offensive dimension to the team.
Even Havertz or Madueke might be able to sub for Tzolis if need be. Dowman can then back up Saka.
There’s also a chance that Arteta would bring in reinforcement after Winter break if necessary.
The club have a further one year option on Martineli. In addition if he was offered a new contract he would have signed it in a heartbeat. The lad never wanted to leave .
Arsenal more concerned with generating cash from sales than improving attack. Done a lot of talking this window failed to get all 3 top targets, any one of which would have transformed our attack. Priorities not right. Massive lost opportunity. Second rate performance by Berta.
It is a big shame to Arteta and Andrew Bertha for not getting replacements of the two Gabby’s Martinneli and Jesus before allowing them to leave of you read what the Barcelona man said about Gabriel Jesus it’s like he is mocking Arsenal for allowing Gabriel Jesus leave which is a reality because both Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinneli are good footballers to the core it’s only injuries that disrupted Gabriel Jesus game otherwise he is supposed to remain on Gabriel Martinneli It’s Arteta and Andrew Bertha made the decision to use him and make money tell me the reason for selling him afterwards Martin Ordegaide scored only one goal last season and he is playing more central but Martinneli scored six goals last season in all competitions t in ey busy posuing shadows it’s a total failure from Morgan Rogers to Vinicius Jr to Julian Alvarez all they failed woefully by now I wish Arteta would have learnt his lessons because I know he will not because he only thinks one sided with looking left or right he supposed to learn sometimes he call those that knows more than him it’s not wrong but he can still retain the premiership trophy but he know how to work in every window that has opened
Now that there is still a chance to stop this Martinneli deal, Arteta should do that before the so called Medicals today to Al Hilal. Otherwise, egg heads run the Club. How can a normal club sells three established attackers and brought only one unproven one.. Last season, we won the EPL with a lot of luck and help from other teams. This season, we might not be so lucky. Arsenal made loads of money from winning the Epl and reaching the UCL finals so, why were they so misery in the transfer market…?
The season we bought Sterling we sold quite a few attackers and only Sterling came in. we all know how that season ended. Arsenal never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity