1Wright laments Martinelli treatmentArsenal’s treatment of Gabriel Martinelli has been questioned by Ian Wright after the Brazil forward was left out of their squad for Friday’s opening game against Coventry. Martinelli turned down a move to Galatasaray last week after Arsenal had agreed a fee with the Turkish club and the former striker Wright revealed on Sky Sports after the Coventry game that no one at the club has spoken to the 25-year-old to discuss his future. “I know they might want him out, and a lot of people might say, ‘yeah, it’s time for him to move him on’. But there’s ways of doing that and it should suit him as well, how he wants to leave,” said Wright. “He’s done enough with this squad to be treated with a little bit more respect than he’s being treated with at the moment.” Ed Aarons
Match report: Arsenal 3-0 Coventry
2Has Watkins tarnished legacy?It was only one game after 278 for Aston Villa, accumulated over the previous six seasons – a period in which Ollie Watkins has scored 108 goals and made himself one of the most popular players in the club’s Premier League history. But the rules are the rules. Nobody can refuse to play and emerge without a mark against their character. This is the charge against Watkins, brought in none-too-subtle fashion by Unai Emery after Villa’s 4-0 defeat at Brighton – a match that Watkins missed as he considers an approach from Al-Hilal. We do not yet have Watkins’s side of the story. Or that of his agent. But given Emery had no other available No 9, it feels pretty clear the manager did not choose to omit Watkins. Villa claim they are not close to any agreement with Al-Hilal, having rejected more than one offer from them. Perish the thought that this could drag on. Villa have one more game before the window shuts – against Arsenal at home next Monday night. David Hytner
