Former Manchester United defender, Danny Simpson, has issued a strong warning to Arsenal, insisting that the club’s Premier League title ambitions will remain out of reach if Gabriel Martinelli continues to feature as a regular starter under manager Mikel Arteta. Martinelli, who arrived at the Emirates Stadium in 2019, has not consistently lived up to the high expectations of Arsenal supporters. Despite flashes of brilliance, the Brazilian winger only managed 16 goal contributions across all competitions for Arteta’s side last season, a figure many feel is below the standard required for a title-winning team. Since Arteta took charge, Arsenal have made remarkable progress but still fallen short of lifting the Premier League trophy. In five seasons, the Gunners have finished as runners-up on three occasions, including the 2024–25 campaign where they lost the title race to Liverpool. Speaking on the Beyond the Four podcast, Simpson, who also played for Newcastle United and Leicester City, argued that Arsenal’s heavy reliance on Martinelli could once again cost them the league crown this season. “I’ve been saying the same thing for the past two years,” Simpson explained. “I like Martinelli as a player, he’s quick and direct, but I just don’t believe Arsenal will win the league with him as their main option out wide. Now when you look at someone like Eberechi Eze—he’s a top, top player.” Interestingly, Martinelli was left on the bench for the entire 90 minutes in Arsenal’s emphatic 5-0 victory against Leeds United, just a week after starting and playing 60 minutes in their Premier League opener against Manchester United. The debate continues to grow among fans and pundits regarding Martinelli’s role in Arteta’s tactical system, with many questioning whether the Brazilian can be trusted to deliver at the highest level when Arsenal need it most.
