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Community Shield: Why I dropped Martinelli, Nwaneri against Man City
Arteta said both forwards need regular minutes as Arsenal weigh late-window exits, with Martinelli drawing a £45 million bid from Galatasaray.
On Sunday, Arsenal claimed their 18th Community Shield victory against Manchester City, but Ethan Nwaneri and Gabriel Martinelli were excluded from the squad, fueling speculation regarding their potential departures.
Mikel Arteta admitted on Friday that Nwaneri must play regular football, while Martinelli drew a £45 million bid from Galatasaray earlier this week, signaling both players could exit before the transfer deadline.
During post-match celebrations, Gabriel Magalhaes persuaded a hesitant Nwaneri and Martinelli to join the team, while Gabriel Jesus, Fabio Vieira, and Reiss Nelson were also omitted from the squad.
Arteta told TNT Sports he fought the Premier League to extend squad sizes, saying, "Really sad to not have their availability," as the club prepares to offload fringe players.
Arsenal remain open to offers for multiple players, with AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund interested in Nwaneri, while Napoli tracks Jesus before the transfer window closes.