Arsenal have witnessed their fair share of top talent slip through their fingers and instead set the world alight with another club. Serge Gnabry is arguably the most notable.
The German left the club for Werder Bremen before gradually making his way to Bayern Munich where he has flourished and become a Champions League and Bundesliga winner with the Bavarian side.
Arsenal were unable to offer Gnabry the senior football he desired and so he went in search of it back in Germany. The club had seen him struggle with both injuries and a loan spell to West Brom did not help his situation.
Further examples such as Ismael Bennacer now at AC Milan, Donyell Malen who is playing for Borussia Dortmund and Yunus Musah now at Valencia prove the point even more. The trio in addition to Gnabry totals a market value of £140.7 million according to Transfermarkt.
Arsenal need to get a lid on the loss of top talent and avoid seeing other clubs benefit from their previous inability to provide a path for talent.
Gabriel Martinelli looks increasingly at greater risk of becoming the next possible casualty. The Brazilian’s minutes under Mikel Arteta have diminished significantly in comparison to his time under Unai Emery.
Speaking ahead of the January window, Arteta denied claims Martinelli could be sent on loan and spoke of his happiness at the player. Reminding those in the presser of the player’s age.
“Well, because of the amount of players we have in those positions. First of all, he had some games that he played,” said Arteta. “He started against Brentford and he started against Chelsea as well.”
“We sometimes forget his age, what he’s done and where he is. We need to try to help him to maintain that balance because you know you can generate frustration that, in my opinion, comes out of a not very realistic diagnosis. You need time to do that.”
However, Arteta has regularly been using plenty of players close to Martinelli’s age. Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith-Rowe, Martin Odegaard, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Sambi Lokonga are all between 20 and 22 and have played consistently.
There have been games where Martinelli’s impact from the bench could have paid dividends and instead, the Spaniard has opted for an alternative.
The attitude of the Brazilian is such that he is unlikely to accept a backup role during these crucial years. Fresh off an Olympic gold medal, much is expected of Martinelli and should the Gunners not provide him more match opportunities he may seek them elsewhere.
The risk of him being added to the list of regrets, therefore, increasing day by day.
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