Bukayo Saka’s message to Gabriel Martinelli
“Gabi… I honestly don’t know what to say.
We came here as kids, dreaming of playing for Arsenal, and somehow we got to live that dream together. I’ll never forget the training sessions, the jokes, the difficult days, the big wins and everything we went through side by side.
You weren’t just my teammate. You were my brother.
It hurts seeing you leave, but I’m so proud of the man and player you’ve become. Arsenal will always be a part of you, and I hope you never forget how much the fans love you.
Thank you for everything, Gabi. I’m going to miss you more than you know.
Once a Gunner, always a Gunner. ❤️
Go and make yourself proud, my brother. I’ll see you again. 🥹
#AFC
🔴⚪ Saka vs Vinicious Jnr. Both started in 2018.
Vinicious has 16 more goals, 7 less assists in 21 more games than Bukayo Saka.
One is world class, one is mid.
One came through as a winger with the platform of a Galactico spine to grow into. One came started as LB for a mediocre Arsenal side until 2023.
If I say who's actually been the better output per opportunity, I'm in trouble. So I won't say it.
I'll just leave the stats there. 👀
COYG. Always. 🔴⚪
€121m and his highlight reel is picking fights that he can’t actually back up with performances. Chelsea fans are too low IQ to realise, it works on them every time
It’s always difficult to watch academy boys go, they are what the club is built on and what tethers us to what happens on the pitch.
A lad from Brazil extracting these same feelings is unique. His story is unique.
He is as Arsenal as Adams, O’Leary or Parlour. Few can say that.
Diabolical to have a PGMOL culture so rotten; this sort of thing happens... but worse, the people who partake in these games are brazen enough to brag about it.
This is worse than incompetence; it's a total failure of governance.
While a shame to lose one of the players who brought joy back to the Emirates, so happy for Martinelli that he got to leave as a champion.
A triumph of recruitment but more importantly one of the most genuine and hard-working players Arsenal have seen for years. He'll be missed.
Martinelli gave Arsenal some incredible moments. The noise and celebrations when he scored that late winner against City at the Emirates in 2023, the bedlam in the away end at Stamford Bridge and last season’s equaliser against City. But that moment in the Bernabeu, for anyone who was lucky enough to be there, was so, so special. As was what followed afterwards. His chant rung through the streets of Madrid all night after that game.
A superb servant to the club, who gave everything while he was here. He felt like an honorary Hale End graduate.
Hope he gets the chance to come back to the Emirates at some point.
Wenger: "You’re not honest."
Mike Dean: "So you’re calling me a cheat?"
Wenger: "I maintain what i say, you’re not honest, you’re a disgrace. You’ve done this to us many times before, you’re supposed to be professional."
Wenger banned for 3 games and fined 40k.
#PGMOLCorrupt
Forever a Gunner ❤️
The club can confirm that Gabriel Martinelli has joined Al-Hilal on a permanent deal.
Thank you for everything and best of luck, Gabi 🤝
The boy from São Paulo came to us for £6m at 18 years old from Brazilian 4th tier.
Left with 96 G/A, a Brazilian international, a Premier League Champion, and owner of the greatest GIF of all time ❤️
From what I’ve seen from Mikel Merino (for club and country) since returning from injury, he looks better than ever. I can see games where it suits him to start in the 10, as our 9 and ultimately a great sub in many game states.
I’m glad the window is done and over with. They screwed up and deserve criticism but I’m over it.
I just want to focus on the football now and we still have plenty to get excited about. Huge game against Chelsea coming up can’t wait for a derby atmosphere and a big statement.