Martinelli deserves better from Arsenal - Wright

Ian Wright says Gabriel Martinelli deserves "more respect" from Arsenal and questioned the way the club have handled the winger's potential exit.

Martinelli made 53 appearances in all competitions last season, scoring 11 goals, as the Gunners won the Premier League title.

But he was left out of the squad for their league opener against Coventry on Friday, which the Gunners won 3-0.

And the Brazil international, 25, was also omitted from last weekend's Community Shield victory against Manchester City, with Arsenal having invited offers for the forward.

"The way Martinelli is being treated at the moment, it really makes me feel uncomfortable," former Arsenal striker Wright told Sky Sports.

"I know they might want him out, and a lot of people might say, 'yeah, it's time for him to move him on'. But there's ways of doing that and it should suit him as well, how he wants to leave.

"Not being involved in the squad, not being spoken to, he doesn't know what's going on. And yes, I know this - he doesn't know what is happening.

"He's done enough with this squad to be treated with a little bit more respect than he's being treated with at the moment."

Martinelli joined Arsenal from Brazilian side Ituano in 2019 and has been part of the first-team squad throughout Mikel Arteta's time as manager, becoming a popular member of the group.

However, with the Gunners trying to build on their title success, Martinelli looks to be an early casualty as they bid stay at the top.

Arsenal deny that he is being frozen out and say the Brazilian's absence is a result of their strength in depth, with new signing Christos Tzolis impressing in Martinelli's preferred position on the left wing against Coventry.

The Gunners also attempted to sign Vinicius Jr, another left winger, before the Brazil star agreed a new contract with Real Madrid.

"If you bring Vini in, Martinelli can say to himself, 'OK, they've brought him in, they've brought Tzolis in, I might be third [in the pecking order]," Wright added.

"But if you bring Tzolis in and have [Noni] Madueke on the other side, you're thinking to yourself, 'I can still have it with these two, I've got something to offer'.

"For him to be nowhere near it, it just makes me feel a bit sad for him."

'Everything has a start and an end'

Arsenal want to make at least one significant sale before the end of the transfer window and have made it clear that Martinelli is available.

They view him as their most sellable asset, along with striker Gabriel Jesus and midfielder Fabio Vieira.

Martinelli has already turned down a move to Galatasaray and would be looking to move to a top European club should he leave the Emirates Stadium.

"It's a really tough moment, but you need to face that reality," Arteta said, when asked about the possibility of well-established players leaving, prior to Friday's match.

"You need to face it with real honesty and transparency because when you are on the other side, that's exactly what you need.

"You might not like what you've been told, but if it's truthful, if it's the reality, if it's honest and it's going to help you to make better decisions and have more clarity for the next steps in your career, you have to do that.

"Everything has a start and has an end. And when it comes to the end, our duty, and our responsibility is to do it in the best possible way, maintaining the respect and admiration for the player and the relationship, but understanding that at the end, we need to make football decisions."

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