Gabriel Agbonlahor, the former Aston Villa forward, has voiced his disbelief regarding Arsenal's recent decision to sell Brazilian winger Gabriel Martinelli to Al-Hilal. The transfer, which is reported to be worth around £55 million, marks the end of Martinelli's seven-year tenure at the North London club.

Agbonlahor expressed his surprise during a post-match analysis following Arsenal's narrow 1-0 victory over Aston Villa. He questioned the club's strategy, suggesting that they could have retained Martinelli by offering him a new contract instead of allowing him to leave. The former striker stated, "Don’t you look at last night and think a player Arsenal could have utilised in that second half was Martinelli? I’m still perplexed that Arsenal have sold Martinelli for £50-55m, at just 25 years of age, with some remarkable moments at that football club. I understand [he’s in the final year of his deal] but if you offer him the right contract then he would have remained, undoubtedly."

Martinelli joined Arsenal from Ituano in 2019 and has since made a significant impact, scoring 62 goals and providing 36 assists across 278 senior appearances. During his time at the club, he contributed to Arsenal's success, including winning one league title and one FA Cup.

The transfer comes amid a busy summer for Arsenal, who have also seen Leandro Trossard depart while bringing in Christos Tzolis. Additionally, Gabriel Jesus has made a move to Barcelona, further reshaping the Gunners' squad ahead of the new season.

Agbonlahor's comments reflect a broader sentiment among fans and analysts who believe that Martinelli's potential and contributions to the team warranted a different approach from the club's management. As Arsenal prepares for the upcoming challenges, the decision to part ways with such a talented player raises questions about their long-term strategy and player retention policies.