Ian Wright says he is “uncomfortable” with Arsenal’s treatment of Gabriel Martinelli and claims the winger is being kept in the dark by the club.Martinelli was left out of the Arsenal squad for the 3-0 wins over Manchester City in the Community Shield and Coventry City in Friday night’s Premier League curtain-raiser.As previously reported by The Athletic, Arsenal are hoping to sell Martinelli, and the club has welcomed offers for the 25-year-old Brazil international this summer. They recently received a €45million (£38.4m; $51.8m) bid from Galatasaray.Speaking about Martinelli’s situation on Sky Sports after the comfortable win over newly-promoted Coventry at the Emirates Stadium, former Arsenal and England striker Wright said: “It really makes me feel uncomfortable.“He always gives 100 per cent. We’re not saying that he’s the greatest, but he’s come up with some big moments for Arsenal in big games. He’s scored some very important goals.“And the way he’s being treated at the end here — I know they might want him out and there’s a lot of guys saying it’s time for him to move on, but there’s ways of doing that. And it should suit him as well, how he wants to leave.”Pushed to elaborate on what he meant by Martinelli’s treatment, Wright said: “Not being spoken to. Doesn’t know what’s going on.“Yes, I do know this, I know this. Not being involved in the Community Shield squad, not being involved tonight. He doesn’t know what’s happening, he’s got a year left (on his contract).”Arsenal failed in an ambitious effort to sign Vinicius Junior from Real Madrid this summer but have landed a new winger in Christos Tzolis, who arrived from Club Brugge.Wright believes Martinelli still has plenty to offer the Premier League champions.“If you bring Vini (Junior from Real Madrid) in, that kind of level in, Martinelli can say to himself, ‘Well, OK they’ve brought him in and Zsolis, I might be third’,” Wright added. “But if you bring Tzolis in and (Noni) Madueke’s there, you’re thinking to yourself, ‘I still think I’ve got something to offer here’.“So for him to be nowhere near it, just makes me feel a bit sad. I think he’s done enough with this team, in this squad to be treated with a little bit more respect than he’s been treated at the moment.”Martinelli’s future dividing opinionAnalysis by Arsenal correspondent James McNicholasMartinelli’s possible departure from Arsenal is an emotive subject. The forward has been at Arsenal for seven years, joining as an 18-year-old from his native Brazil. Supporters have watched him evolve from unknown prodigy to Premier League title-winner — and now it seems Arsenal are preparing to move on.The exclusion of Martinelli from the substitutes’ bench for both the Community Shield and Premier League opener certainly sent a message: currently, he is surplus to requirements. Arsenal want to generate some revenue through player trading, and appear to have identified Martinelli as a saleable asset.Wright believes Arsenal could have handled the situation with more clarity and respect. Equally, some will say this is merely the brutal reality of elite sport.Martinelli has already made Arsenal aware he is unwilling to join Galatasaray, who bid €45m earlier in the window. It remains to be seen if an alternative solution can be found between now and the end of the transfer window on September 1.Aug 22, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms