In-form Martinelli wants to sign new Arsenal deal 

Brazil star Gabriel Martinelli says that he wants to commit to a new long-term contract at Arsenal.

The forward, 21, has been in talks about more than doubling his wage of around £50,000 a week in his present deal, which expires in 2024 but includes an option for the club to extend by a further two years.

Martinelli is enjoying his best start to a season since joining three years ago

 He has four goals and two assists in the Premier League, after scoring six and making six in the entirety of the previous campaign. “Of course, I want to stay,” Martinelli said. “We are talking. Let’s see what is going to happen. But I want to stay, of course.”

Last week, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta suggested that the club needed to “reward players that have a big future”, which was a reference to the Brazilian, Bukayo Saka and William Saliba, who are all in talks to extend their contracts. Arsenal have an option to extend deals for Saka and Saliba by one year until 2025.

Arsenal have the financial flexibility to do so after reducing their wage bill, which reached £237 million in the 2020-21 season according to the latest club’s accounts. Their top earners are Thomas Partey and Gabriel Jesus, who both earn more than £150,000 a week.

Martinelli scored one and assisted another during Arsenal’s 3-2 victory against Liverpool on Sunday, which moved the North London club back to the top of the Premier League. Despite Arteta playing down Arsenal’s title chances, Martinelli believes they are contenders.

“Yeah of course we dream about it, but we leave [talking about it] to the fans,” he said. “We only think about the next game and trying to win. You can see our hunger and our mentality.”