Merson: Arsenal will regret selling Martinelli before Champions League
Arsenal legend Paul Merson has warned that selling Gabriel Martinelli to Al-Hilal could cost the Gunners in this season’s UEFA Champions League. Speaking to Sky Sports, Merson said the Brazilian winger’s pace on the counter‑attack is exactly what opponents like Paris Saint‑German and Bayern Munich fear, and without it Arsenal will struggle when those teams press them away from home. Arsenal open their Champions League campaign with an away fixture at Napoli on Wednesday, September 8, 2026, after finishing as runners‑up last season when they lost the final to PSG. Merson believes the decision to let Martinelli go weakens Arsenal’s ability to absorb pressure and launch quick breaks, a tactic that served them well in deep runs last year. The club has yet to name a direct replacement for Martinelli’s role on the left wing, leaving a potential gap in their attacking options against high‑pressing European sides. Will Arsenal adjust their tactics to compensate for the loss of Martinelli’s speed, or will the absence of that counter‑attack threat prove costly in their quest for European glory?