Marquinhos must enthral Mikel Arteta when Arsenal host AS Monaco in the Emirates Cup or he will risk being sold before the current summer transfer window slams shut.
The 20-year-old is only entering his second season at Emirates Stadium but already faces an uncertain future in north London. Arsenal secured a transfer with Sao Paulo for Marquinhos worth £3m in June 2022. Yet Arteta is already considering cashing in on the Brazilian winger.
Reports by Sky Sports at the start of July cited Marquinhos as one of six players that Arsenal could sanction transfers for. Emirates Stadium chiefs discussed his future with the club after returning from a loan spell at Norwich City. The forward headed to Carrow Road in January.
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Arsenal are already considering a transfer for Marquinhos
Arsenal have not ruled out selling Marquinhos or sanctioning another loan transfer for the Sao Paulo native. While Nicolas Pepe, Folarin Balogun, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Nuno Tavares and Cedric Soares also face uncertain futures. All six players could leave in the current sales.
Marquinhos played 11 times whilst on loan to Norwich but could only help the Canaries to a 13th-place finish. The Under-20 international also only scored one goal and offered an assist in the Championship. Both of his goal involvements came on his debut against Cardiff City.
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Marquinhos did not always impress on loan to Norwich City
David Wagner started Marquinhos for his Norwich debut against Cardiff in February. He also saw the Arsenal talent assist Gabriel Sara before scoring in the space of four minutes. Yet he failed to add another goal involvement despite Marquinhos starting eight of his 11 matches.
Arteta had, likewise, only seen Marquinhos offer Arsenal one goal and one assist before he joined Norwich. He featured six times across all competitions after arriving in England from Sao Paulo. Marquinhos only started in three of his appearances after his transfer to Arsenal.
A chance to send Marquinhos on loan to Norwich in the January transfer window appealed to Arsenal as he had further only featured as a stoppage-time substitute in just one Premier League game. Now, a brief cameo at Brentford may be his sole top-flight outing for Arsenal.
Marquinhos faces a go big or go home friendly with Monaco
Monaco’s visit to Emirates Stadium on Wednesday for Arsenal’s last pre-season friendly can give Marquinhos the chance to show Arteta why he should not grant a transfer, especially a permanent one. It will likely be his last chance to impress before the new term commences.
Given Marquinhos may already be available for a transfer, Arteta is unlikely to unleash him when Arsenal face Manchester City in the Community Shield. Nor is the Gunners boss likely to consider playing the Brazilian when the north Londoners start the Premier League term.
So, the Emirates Cup could be Marquinhos go big or go home moment to avoid any transfer away from Arsenal. He has a lot of potential and Dean Ashton even called him a ‘wonderful talent’ at Norwich. But Arsenal need players Arteta trusts and Marquinhos may not be one.