Freddie Ljungberg, a former Arsenal player, has expressed his views on how some fans treated Gabriel Martinelli during his time at the club, suggesting they may have overlooked the contributions he made over the years. Martinelli, who played for Arsenal for seven seasons, scored one goal and recorded four assists in the Premier League last season as the club secured the title. Despite his efforts, Martinelli was named among the substitutes for the last six matches of the season and eventually moved to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal in a transfer worth approximately £60 million. This marked the second departure of a key forward, following Leandro Trossard’s move to Besiktas in early July. In response to Martinelli’s exit, Arsenal signed Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge to fill the void left by the two departing forwards. However, the club struggled to find another top-class attacker before the transfer deadline, leaving Arteta, the head coach, with fewer options on the left flank than he had hoped for. Ljungberg, speaking on Viaplay, acknowledged that Martinelli was a valuable player for Arsenal, especially considering his age, work ethic, and the high transfer fee the club received for him. He was surprised by the negative reactions from some fans who seemed to want Martinelli out of the team, despite his contributions over the years. While Ljungberg criticized the fans' perception of Martinelli, he also recognized the need for Tzolis, a £34 million signing from Club Brugge, as a replacement. He noted that Tzolis may be more tactically aware than Martinelli, who sometimes made decisions that frustrated teammates and fans alike. "Sometimes he did irrational things," Ljungberg said, explaining that Martinelli’s high-energy style occasionally led to defensive lapses. In contrast, Tzolis appears to be more disciplined and positioned himself better on the field, according to the former Arsenal winger. Following Martinelli’s departure, Mikel Arteta praised the Brazilian for his growth and dedication to the club. The Spanish coach expressed gratitude for the time they spent together, highlighting Martinelli's transformation both personally and professionally. "He’s been a critical player... but the story ends," Arteta said, acknowledging the end of Martinelli’s chapter at Arsenal while recognizing the impact he had on the team's journey.