Arsenal have made a notable selection decision ahead of their Community Shield clash with Manchester City, with Gabriel Martinelli left out of the matchday squad for Sunday’s meeting at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
Martinelli travelled with the Arsenal squad but was not named among Mikel Arteta’s substitutes, meaning the Brazilian winger will play no part in the season-opening contest. His omission comes despite his involvement during Arsenal’s pre-season preparations.
The decision has immediately raised questions about Martinelli’s position in Arteta’s plans heading into the 2026/27 campaign. The 25-year-old has been linked with interest from Galatasaray this summer, although reports indicate that Martinelli has not been pushing to leave Arsenal at this stage.
With Martinelli unavailable for selection, new signing Christos Tzolis has been handed a starting role against Manchester City.
Tzolis is part of an Arsenal attack that also features Noni Madueke and Kai Havertz, while captain Martin Ødegaard starts in midfield. The Greek forward impressed during pre-season and has now been given an opportunity to make an early statement in a competitive fixture.
Arsenal's confirmed XI is:
David Raya; Ben White, Gabriel Magalhães, Cristhian Mosquera, Riccardo Calafiori; Myles Lewis-Skelly, Bruno Guimarães, Martin Ødegaard; Noni Madueke, Christos Tzolis; Kai Havertz.
The bench includes Kepa Arrizabalaga, Piero Hincapié, Max Dowman, Martín Zubimendi, Mikel Merino, Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze, Viktor Gyökeres and Bukayo Saka.
Martinelli's omission is particularly significant given the transfer speculation surrounding the winger. Galatasaray have reportedly shown interest in the Brazilian, with a reported €45 million offer previously discussed.
However, his absence from the squad does not by itself confirm that a transfer is imminent. Arsenal have several attacking options available, and Arteta's decision could also reflect his current selection preferences as the club prepares for the new season.
The omission of Gabriel Jesus and Ethan Nwaneri alongside Martinelli has also attracted attention, with all three players missing from the matchday squad.
The Community Shield represents Arsenal's first competitive fixture of the 2026/27 season after they won the Premier League title last campaign.
Manchester City, meanwhile, begin a new era under manager Enzo Maresca following Pep Guardiola's departure. The match therefore provides an early opportunity for both sides to assess their new-look squads ahead of the Premier League campaign.
For Martinelli, however, the biggest talking point is his absence. The winger will watch from the sidelines as Tzolis gets the opportunity to impress in one of English football's biggest opening fixtures.
Whether Martinelli returns to the starting picture once the Premier League season begins—or whether his omission proves to be a sign of a changing role at Arsenal—will be one of the storylines to watch in the coming weeks.
