One Arsenal player has fans seriously concerned for the future, ‘enough is enough’

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Arsenal beat AC Milan 1-0 in their first pre-season test of their two-week tour of Asia.

Mikel Arteta’s side dominated the fixture at the Singapore National Stadium, with Bukayo Saka scoring the only goal of the game. 

After the win, Arsenal were beaten by Milan in a penalty shoot-out, with Reiss Nelson, Martin Odegaard, Jakub Kiwior and Marli Salmon missing from the spot. 

There were a lot of talking points for Arteta to discuss with the Arsenal squad following the fixture, and if the boss thought the same as some fans, then one player is in for a scolding. 

• READ MORE: Arsenal fans were spotted doing something very interesting at half-time during pre-season game vs AC Milan

Arsenal fans express their concern about Gabriel Martinelli

On social media, Arsenal fans discussed the match as it unfolded. 

One player who was a point of interest was Gabriel Martinelli, but not for the right reasons. 

Martinelli was urged to step it up over the 2024/25 campaign, enduring two below-par seasons after showcasing inspired form over the 2022/23 calendar. 

The Brazilian hasn’t shown form anywhere close to the highs of 2022/23, with Arsenal fans seriously concerned about his lack of progression. 

After the AC Milan game, one Arsenal fan took to X to say, “Even Dowman plays better than Martinelli today, no improvement at all, same old Martinelli.”

It wasn’t only the 15-year-old who fans thought outplayed Martinelli, with rarely-seen Reiss Nelson also impressing.

“It’s ironic that Nelson looks better than Martinelli,” a supporter said. 

Fans couldn’t stop talking about Martinelli, with the verdict rather unanimous. 

“I actually can’t go through another season of watching Martinelli on the left.”

“Martinelli enough is enough. It’s time to go. You’re not good enough at this level.”

The 24-year-old rotated with Leandro Trossard last season, two players who fans have real doubts about ahead of the new season. 

“Honestly can’t even defend Trossard and Martinelli anymore.”

“Trossard is, but I get the sentiment. We need to have a serious Martinelli discussion.”

One supporter shared a ‘lingering feeling’ they have about Martinelli, something they can only compare to Emile Smith Rowe’s final years at Arsenal. 

“In Smith Rowe’s last two seasons, I had this lingering feeling that the team had moved past him so much that he began to look out of place whenever he would play….I feel like that watching Martinelli now.”

A lot of fans agreed with the opinion, as one accused fellow supporters of overhyping Martinelli.

“We moved past him ages ago. Arsenal fans are just obsessed with thinking he’s better than he actually is.” 

Martinelli’s stats against AC Milan 

Fans weighed in on Martinelli after his performance, which ended with the winger being hooked at half-time.

At a time when the Arsenal squad is changing, with Noni Madueke signed to bring competition to the wide areas, now is the Brazilian’s chance to impress.

As seen through his match statistics above, Martinelli flattered to deceive against Milan, having only 19 touches on the ball and completing six passes.

Arsenal supporters simply want to see more from Martinelli, and against Milan, he didn’t deliver, but there’s plenty of time to turn things around.