Today, Arsenal announced that Gabriel Martinelli put pen to paper and signed his future to Arsenal with a 4-year deal with a club option to extend per James Benge.
The announcement comes 48-hours after they unveiled the new contract of Bukayo Saka and this one will have Arsenal fans almost as happy.
For once, it will feel as though Arsenal are taking care of business on the front end rather than waiting until the deadline approaches while fans begin to panic.
Arteta has high-praises for the Brazilian saying after the deal, “I am very happy that Gabi has signed a new contract with us. He is a very talented young player and he has impressed us with his performances, attitude and work-rate. We are looking forward to getting him back to full fitness and to watching his development at our club.”
The deal is an incredibly promising sign and extremely welcomed alongside the news of Bukayo Saka. With Saka getting a new deal and Martinelli proving this year that he is truly a first team player, it makes sense that Arsenal would look to take care of him now.
Not only does this deal come at a time when Arsenal are able to work with him freely and positively when they are not faced with a deadline that can often lead to nasty turns in negotiations, but it allows Gabriel to be paid adequately for what he is producing which is bound to keep any player content. In addition to this, it is a nice show of solidarity from the club in the wake of Gabi’s injury that resulted in him needing surgery and missing the remainder of the year.
Martinelli has made 26 appearances across all competitions this year and has contributed directly to 14 goals – 10 goals, 4 assists. He has also displayed an astounding amount of maturity in his game through his crafty runs, positional knowledge, and keen finishing ability. He has been forced to play on the left wing for most of the year and has produced his fair share of great moments.
That hasn’t stopped him from also scoring when he has gotten to play in that lone striker role. Arteta will have a few nice options to pick from when it comes to getting results for Martinelli.
Great news, and a great way to end Friday!
Gunner Thoughts 