Arsenal respond to Martinelli transfer approach as Arteta lays out demands

Arsenal have received an approach from Galatasaray regarding a possible move for Gabriel Martinelli. However, the Gunners are not expected to consider the Turkish club's advances unless a replacement is lined up.

The Mirror's sister-title football.london report that the 25-year-old is currently in Mikel Arteta's plans but the ambitious move for Vinicius Junior indicated a desire to strengthen out wide with other clubs taking note of Martinelli's potential availability.

Christos Tzolis has already joined this summer and has been Arteta's chosen left winger throughout pre-season. The former Norwich City man scored in the win over Girona and assisted Piero Hincapie's headed goal in the defeat to Real Betis.

A desire for more consistent output appears to be the reason behind Arsenal's pursuit of another attacker with Martinelli managing just one Premier League goal across 30 outings last season.

He produced an impressive Champions League campaign during the league phase, but failed to find the net in any knockout fixture en route to the final.

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That impact when it matters seems to be what Arsenal are looking for. Should they identify a suitable option, it would likely trigger a change in approach regarding Martinelli's situation.

The player is thought to be content in north London and retains aspirations of competing at the highest level, but the guarantee of consistent game time and the prospect of being displaced by another new signing could alter that outlook.

Arteta addressed the media following the clash in Girona, hinting that further transfer activity could be on the horizon over the coming weeks. Bruno Guimaraes has already been confirmed as an Arsenal signing, though additional deals are still anticipated.

"We expect to have movements in the next few weeks, obviously," the Spaniard added, speaking after a 4-1 pre-season victory over Girona.

"We want to get better like anybody else, and you just can see the transfer market and our opponents, what we are doing. We won't sit still, and we are very ambitious with what we are doing.

"The margins are very small. Because we want to get better, and the level is going to increase. We need to increase the competition internally. We need to make sure we identify the things that we don't have in the team."

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