Gabriel Martinelli: Arsenal sent transfer message as Mikel Arteta handed possible striker solution

Mikel Arteta unexpectedly welcomed Martinelli back from a hamstring problem during Sunday's 1-1 Premier League draw with Manchester United, where he replaced Ethan Nwaneri for the final half-hour.

While Martinelli's return was an unexpected boost, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka's absences means that 30-year-old Trossard is Arsenal's most senior fit attacker, but the Belgian has blown hot and cold this season and is out of contract in 2026.

Meanwhile, Martinelli could also leave for free in 2027 if Arsenal do not trigger the one-year option in his existing terms, although the Gunners are said to be planning to reward the Brazil international with a new contract in the near future.

However, with Arsenal tipped to sign Athletic Bilbao's Nico Williams this summer, Watts told Sports Mole that he expects one of the duo to leave and expressed his belief that Trossard - linked with a move to Saudi Arabia last year - is the more likely option to go.

"It's definitely an area Arsenal can upgrade," Watts said. "I'm not saying that's the end of Martinelli, what Arsenal need to do is improve the options they have. The options they've got off the bench aren't that great. He clearly doesn't fancy Raheem Sterling, he's bringing Kieran Tierney on ahead of him.

"But I think Martinelli still has a big part to play. Whether it be rotating with another left-winger who comes in - Nico Williams for example - we know Mikel Arteta would love to sign Nico Williams if he could get that deal over the line, which would be tough to do.

Watts "shocked" if Trossard, Martinelli both stay at Arsenal

"If they can, you have Martinelli as your option off the bench, I think that's a really strong option. And you don't have to play Nico Williams every game. You can rotate the two of them or whoever comes in as that left sided option.

"I wouldn't be surprised if Trossard goes. I'd be quite shocked if both of those players are still at Arsenal next season. I would certainly look at Trossard as a more likely option, just because of his age, his contract situation.

"Martinelli is still young, he can still improve. With that option, he's still got three years left on his deal. There's no rush to move him on. Trossard, one year left, he's into his thirties, there was interest from Saudi Arabia last summer. If that materialises again, and Arsenal can see a way of cashing in on him, it wouldn't surprise me if they take that opportunity and then bring someone else in to share the load."

Martinelli was initially expected to be out until after the March international break due to the hamstring injury he sustained against Newcastle United in the EFL Cup semi-final second-leg defeat last month, but reports emerged on Sunday morning that he had made a quicker-than-expected return.

The versatile South American functioned as Arsenal's right-winger for the final 30 minutes of their stalemate with Man United and put in an energetic display, firing two shots on Andre Onana's goal and completing one successful dribble.

However, Martinelli arguably made the wrong decision to shoot from a tight angle when he could have squared for Trossard inside the area, as Onana covered his near post well and the resulting corner came to nothing for Arsenal.

Nevertheless, Watts feels that Martinelli put in a decent shift at the Theatre of Dreams, although it may be another month or so before Gooners see the former Ituano starlet back at the peak of his powers.

Did Martinelli get unfair stick in Man United draw?

"It's very pleasing," Watts said of Martinelli's unforeseen return. "They kept that one under wraps, didn't they? I certainly wasn't expecting that. There were whispers, a video emerged of him with the squad at the train station on the morning of the game. It was certainly a surprise to me.

"There'd been no hint that he was ready to come back. I actually thought he played quite well when he came on, he got a bit of stick online, but for his first game in a while coming off the bench like that, I thought he was a bit of a threat.

"Maybe his touch could have been better; that chance where he ended up shooting at the near post, if his touch was better he probably could have worked himself a better shooting position. He could have squared it, but I like the fact he took it on.

"It's a boost for Arsenal. They haven't got many attackers at the moment, so any they get back, it's going to be a boost. It's a real welcome addition to the squad for Mikel Arteta at a time when he's crying out for more attackers.

"Fair play to the medical team and the staff for getting him back in pretty rapid time. I imagine we're still going to have to wait a few weeks to to see him back to his best, probably until after international break."

As well as giving Arteta another option out wide to ease the load on Trossard and Nwaneri, Martinelli's comeback also offers the Arsenal boss an alternative solution in the number nine spot, where the Mikel Merino has yielded mixed results.

The Spaniard scored a double off the bench against Leicester City and also netted in the 7-1 Champions League demolition of PSV Eindhoven, but he struggled to impact the game against Man United, Nottingham Forest or West Ham United.

Is Martinelli a solution to Arsenal's striker crisis?

Martinelli would arguably be a more natural fit in the centre-forward role, as according to data from Transfermarkt, the 23-year-old has scored nine goals from 16 appearances through the middle, including a brace in a 4-0 home win over Everton in March 2023.

However, even though Watts would like to see Arteta experiment with different attacking solutions, he has urged caution about starting Martinelli through the centre, as the South American is unlikely to experience much joy against low blocks.

Asked if Martinelli could fill the centre-forward void, Watts replied: "I think he could. I don't know if Mikel will actually do it, I think he's definitely an option there. Can he hold the ball up? Will he be able to bring others into play? There's definitely a big question mark hanging over him.

"I don't think Merino had a very effective game yesterday. That's going to happen - you'll have a good day, sometimes a bad day. Martinelli, if you're playing as a nine, you really want to stretch the defence, but with the way teams are setting up against Arsenal now, you don't really think he'd have too much space to run into because teams just play so low.

"That space where he could be a real threat getting on the last shoulder of the centre back, you don't really imagine that that happening. I think Mikel will probably go with what he's been doing so far and use Martinelli as a wide option.

"But there is definitely an opportunity for him to play there at some point between now and the end of the season. It'd be good to see it as well, even if it doesn't work. Arsenal need to try things at the moment because it's not exactly working brilliantly in the Premier League with Merino there. Maybe you catch a team off guard as well a little bit if you do do that."

Martinelli - who has seven goals and four assists to show from 36 games this season - will be in contention to start against PSV in Wednesday's Champions League last-16 second leg, although the 23-year-old is one of three players who would miss the first leg of the quarter-finals if he is booked, alongside Jurrien Timber and Raheem Sterling.

Written by

Ben Knapton