Gabriel Martinelli and Ethan Nwaneri were seen awkwardly watching on as the rest of Arsenal’s squad celebrated winning the Community Shield – leaving many fans convinced that their days at the club are numbered.
There was some surprise as the two attackers were left out of Arsenal’s clash against Manchester City, with the duo failing to even make the substitutes bench in Cardiff.
The two managers were only permitted to name nine players in addition to their starting XIs at the Principality Stadium – a rule that a ‘saddened’ Mikel Arteta hopes is changed.
‘Really sad to not have their availability,’ the Arsenal head coach told TNT Sports ahead of kick-off.
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‘I have been fighting with the Premier League to extend them and to accommodate more players in the squad.
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‘They deserve to be in the squad. Hopefully we can change that rule.’
The Gunners coped perfectly well without Martinelli and Nwaneri on the day, with Riccardo Calafiori firing the English champions in front after only 23 seconds.
Kai Havertz and club captain Martin Odegaard struck either side of half-time to further increase the deficit against a lacklustre City, led by Enzo Maresca for the first time in an official capacity.
The result saw the Gunners claim the Community Shield for an 18th time in their history – just three short of Manchester United’s record total of 21 victories.
There were jubilant scenes as Arteta’s players gathered around Odegaard on the podium to hold the prize aloft shortly after the final whistle.
However, a video has been circulating amongst Arsenal supporters which shows both Martinelli and Nwaneri standing some distance away from the rest of their team-mates – until Gabriel Magalhaes eventually persuaded them to join in the fun.
‘Bro [three crying emojis] separately, Nwaneri and Martinelli are GONE. Them man were borderline refusing to go over for the celebrations until Big Gabi called them over,’ one Arsenal fan wrote on X.
A second bluntly wrote: ‘Just get them gone man, £80m right there and a new attacking signing.’
