Arsenal star Gabriel Martinelli’s dad speaks on exit rumours amid Corinthians return links

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The father of Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli has insisted that he will not be returning to Corinthians on loan in January despite failing to work his way into Mikel Arteta’s first-team plans this season. The Brazilian maestro joined the Gunners in a £6million move back in 2019 and has established himself as one of the club’s finest young talents in the years since.

Martinelli burst onto the scene at Arsenal shortly after the arrival of Arteta, who gave the 20-year-old plenty of senior minutes in his first season at the helm.

However, the forward’s time in north London has been blighted by injuries, with a serious knee problem going on to hamper his development.

He returned to action midway through last season but has struggled to recapture his previous form, leaving him firmly on the fringes at the Emirates Stadium.

Martinelli has only played 159 minutes of Premier League football this season, with Arteta leaving him as an unused substitute on six occasions.

The Guarulhos native’s lack of action has led to suggestions that he could return to Corinthians on a temporary basis in January.

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He spent four years on their books as a youth player between 2010 and 2014 before moving on to Ituano and then Arsenal.

However, Martinelli’s dad Joao has moved quickly to pour cold water on the possibility of a mid-season move elsewhere.

He admitted to Yahoo! that his son has been left unimpressed by his lack of first-team opportunities, but insisted that he is not thinking about an exit.

“There is no chance of him going to Corinthians or any other Brazilian club,” said Martinelli’s father.

“Since he came back from an injury, he’s been playing a lot less than he would have liked. They even painted some proposals from Europe, but Arsenal have already warned that they will not release him.

“People like him a lot. Not only for what he plays, but also for his dedication. Martinelli is almost always the first to arrive for training and the last to leave.”

Meanwhile, it remains to be seen whether Martinelli will be able to work his way back into contention at Arsenal over the coming weeks and months.

He has already registered 56 appearances for the Gunners since joining the club from Ituano two years ago.

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Arteta has already dismissed the possibility of sending Martinelli out on loan, declaring last month that he is still a huge admirer of the young forward.

“We have a lot of trust with Gabby, and we have to find the right space for him to grow within the squad,” the Spaniard told reporters.

“The injuries he has suffered have been big setbacks, we sometimes forget his age, what he’s done, and where he is.

“We need to try and help him maintain that balance right, because you know you can generate frustration that comes out, in my opinion, a not very realistic diagnosis and you need time to do that.”

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