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Mikel Arteta spoke about the departure of Gabriel Martinelli from Arsenal at the end of the summer window. The 25-year-old reminisced fondly about his time in North London through a social media post, feeling that he had become an adopted member of the club’s Hale End academy. He joined the team from Ituano, in the fourth division of Brazilian football, at the age of 18, and leaves as a man. ·‘The story ends and we wish him all the very best’ The relentless work rate, humility and smell for goal that typified Martinelli’s best moments meant he was always a valuable asset for the Gunners throughout the last seven years. He might not have lived up to the potential from his 2022/23 campaign where he contributed 15 non-penalty goals, but he is a beloved figure for the fans and an embodiment of the resurgence of one of England’s great clubs. ·A record-breaking exit The £60 million fee that Al-Hilal paid for the forward makes him the most expensive outgoing player in the history of Arsenal. But his legacy is much more than the money that the Gunners have banked. Arteta certainly sounded thankful for the efforts that Martinelli contributed to the club in his time. The Spaniard has also had to address concerns about Arsenal’s squad since the window closed. ·Arteta on Martinelli “With great gratitude, it's been a pleasure to work with him, to be part of this journey with [Gabi.] “The Gabi that I met and the Gabi that just left, it's a huge transformation, both in the personal side and in the professional side. I think the impact that he had for the club, his ambition, his love for the game and the way he has, I think, helped us to grow and achieve our goals. I think he's been a critical player. The story ends and we wish him all the very best in a different one. This is part of football.”