Aston Villa transfer target included ‘struggling’ Arsenal star before Jadon Sancho loan

Aston Villa were reportedly tracking a potential target at Premier League rivals Arsenal before signing Jadon Sancho on transfer deadline day.

Unai Emery was keen to bolster Villa’s attacking options even after signing Evann Guessand, and one of the players linked with an interest from Villa over the summer was Gunners winger Leandro Trossard. According to reports, the Belgian international was not the only Arsenal man in Villa’s thinking.

Villa were apparently also keen on Gabriel Martinelli, the Brazilian left winger who has been a mainstay of Mikel Arteta’s team in north London for the past few seasons.

Martinelli isn’t a forgotten man at Arsenal. The 24-year-old played in 51 matches in all competitions in 2024/25, scoring ten goals and assisting another six. His goal contributions were important in big matches, including a goal in a Champions League quarter-final win against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu and one each against Chelsea, Liverpool and Villa, and an assists in a draw against Manchester City.

Emery is familiar with Martinelli. While the Villa manager was in charge at Arsenal, he gave the Brazilian his first team debut and is known to be a fan of his pace and work ethic.

Villa’s interest didn’t materialise and no official offer was made in the summer transfer window. Had there been a genuine pursuit, Villa would have had to find a way to make the deal work financially. Martinelli isn’t a player Arsenal would be selling lightly and he has two years left on his contract.

Martinelli struggling for form

In the end, Villa plumped for a loan transfer of Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho, who joined the club on deadline day. Martinelli’s form has dipped and, if Sancho can relocate his best performance levels, he could prove to be the smarter acquisition.

Martinelli has been subject to some criticism and Arsenal’s needs are, perhaps, no longer served by a player of his profile.

The Brazilian could be expected to play more directly and less freely as Arsenal look to accommodate their expensive new striker, Viktor Gyökeres, with the right tactical approach for his skills.

Martinelli wasn’t as effective in transitional moments as required in the matches he’s played so far this season. Arteta still trusts him but Trossard and new signing Eberechi Eze, as well as other wide players yet to come back into the fold, mean that his minutes could soon become limited at the Emirates.

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