Alan Brazil says Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli often frustrates him | OneFootball

Alan Brazil has slammed Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli for often frustrating him with his decision-making process.

The Gunners attacker is a fine player on his day, but he has been inconsistent over the last two campaigns and the Emirates Stadium club were open to selling him earlier in the transfer window.

Martinelli will face competition from the likes of Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke for playing opportunities at Arsenal this term, and the club could look to sell him next summer if he does not improve his output in front of goal.

“Is it harder being a wide player, a winger than being a midfield player,” Brazil asked on talkSPORT.

“Midfield player you are always on the ball, you are getting the ball, you are involved in the game.

“Wingers sometimes…Martinelli, he does my head in, right? He is willing, he is game, when does he ever take someone on,and get to the byline and whips in.”

Theo Walcott was also not pleased with Martinelli failing to test Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai, who played at right-back against Arsenal on Sunday.

The Brazilian has to be doing more, and he is likely to find himself permanently out of the starting XI if the new players finally bed in.

Martinelli bagged 15 goals and six assists in 36 Premier League games in his best campaign in 2022-23.

However, he has been involved in 18 goals and 11 assists in 97 games since then, and he could have been sold had suitors met the valuation of Arsenal earlier in the summer transfer window.

The Gunners valued him at more than £60 million, but interest in him was only reaching the £40m mark and they decided against pushing to sell him to avoid a long-running saga.

Martinelli is playing for his Arsenal future this term as he is out of a deal in 2027 and there have been no significant talks held over a contract extension.