According to latest reports in England, Arsenal are very close to signing a new improved contract with Brazilian winger Gabriel Martinelli.
Gabriel Martinelli had a good 21-22 season. He was a bright spot in Arsenal’s campaign last season, with 6 goals and 6 assists in 21 starts in the Premier League. However, the forward seems to have upped his game by a notch this season.
The 21-year-old has made a fabulous start to the 2022-23 season, having acquired 5 goals and 2 assists from 13 Premier League games so far (stats via Transfermarkt). Martinelli has clamped down his place on the left flank in Mikel Arteta’s strongest XI.
Martinelli was in line for a new and improved contract at Arsenal, as reported by ArseDevils in September. Negotiations were underway between the club and the player for a revised deal. The youngster’s current deal at the Emirates runs till 2024. The club also have the option to extend his contract for a further one-year.
However, his excellent performances this season and his improved standing as a regular first-team player has warranted the need for a revised deal. According to The Mirror, Arsenal have reached an agreement with Gabriel Martinelli over a new contract.
Moreover, the Brazilian forward has also shown eagerness in signing a new deal. Ahead of last week’s Europa League game against FC Zurich, the youngster said:
“I’m very happy at Arsenal, I’ve said it many times. This is my club. I love to be here. I love the city, I love the club, I love everything about Arsenal. So I want to stay, I’m very happy.”
“Yeah, I just need a pen!”
Martinelli’s stunning form has drawn interest from other clubs, including Juventus. However, the Italians look unlikely to present the youngster with a better project than the one he currently enjoys at the Emirates. Other clubs, including Chelsea, have also reportedly been monitoring the Brazilian’s situation at Arsenal.
The youngster’s performances have also garnered praise from his manager. During his post-match press conference after the win against Liverpool last month, Mikel Arteta applauded the 21-year-old:
“Obviously, when you see what he was when he started a year ago against Brentford, to what he is today.
“The development is just phenomenal. But it’s his hunger, his desire, how much he loves to play, to train, to get better every single day. It’s a nightmare to play against him. The same with Bukayo and Gabi [Jesus] up front, we have a real threat up front, we know that, teams and players are respecting us on that.”
The only setback for the Gunners in the negotiations could have been Martinelli’s massive wage demands. The former Ituano attacker is currently on a £90,000 wage. Nevertheless, it doesn’t seem to a problem anymore, with the club ready to hike up the figure to about £200,000 a week to retain their forward. This would make him the third-highest earner at the club.
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However, such a move could set a bad precedent for two reasons:
- Allowing Martinelli such enormous wages could lead to demands for higher pay from some of the other top players at the club, including Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Ben White, Granit Xhaka, William Saliba, and Gabriel; all of whom earn considerably less at the moment.
- Martinelli is currently only 21. Making him one of the highest-paid players at such an early stage in his career could make any negotiations for a new contract in the future very difficult.
What do you think of the new contract offered by Arsenal to keep Gabriel Martinelli at the Emirates? Let us know in the comments.
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