Arsenal medical booked today as transfer to be completed after deadline

Gabriel Martinelli's proposed transfer to Al-Hilal remains on course to be completed, despite the summer transfer window shutting in England. The 25-year-old has agreed to join the Saudi Pro League outfit from Arsenal in a deal valued at £55.7million plus £4.3m in add-ons. Because the Saudi Arabia transfer window remains open until September 6, Al-Hilal have additional time to finalise the agreement.

According to The Athletic, the Brazil international is set to undergo his medical on Wednesday before putting pen to paper on a four-year deal at the Riyadh-based club. Following that, the transfer is expected to be confirmed with Martinelli departing the Emirates Stadium seven years after joining from Ituano. During that period, he helped the Gunners claim the FA Cup and the Premier League as well as the Community Shield three times, netting 62 goals and registering 36 assists in 278 appearances.

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With the Martinelli fee potentially reaching £60m, he is poised to become Arsenal's most lucrative sale in history, surpassing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's £35m switch to Liverpool in 2017.

Martinelli's Arsenal contract was due to expire next summer, and it appeared this represented the club's last opportunity to command a sizeable fee for the winger, unless he committed to fresh terms. His departure seemed inevitable after he lost his starting berth to Leandro Trossard last season.

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While Trossard has since departed to join Besiktas, Christos Tzolis has arrived in a £34m deal from Club Brugge, and the Gunners were actively pursuing a left winger right up until Tuesday's deadline.

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Galatasaray had made an approach for Martinelli earlier in August, but the Brazilian snubbed the opportunity to move to the Turkish club. He made his preference for a switch to Saudi Arabia abundantly clear, and that is precisely where he is now headed.

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Speaking to journalists at the Sobha Realty Training Centre last week ahead of the Gunners' fixture against Aston Villa, Arteta left the door ajar regarding Martinelli's potential exit. The Arsenal manager said: "That's another personal situation that we're dealing with.

"I think everybody knows and recognises how much we love Gabi. Whatever the outcome is, it will be because everybody agrees to that."

When Martinelli arrived at Arsenal during the summer of 2019, his delight was plain to see. The then-18-year-old said: "This is a dream since I was a child, and also my family's dream for me to be playing in Europe and playing for a big team like Arsenal. I am going to take this opportunity."

Martinelli could make his Al-Hilal debut when they travel to Al-Shabab on Friday. They then host Neom on Monday before making the trip to Al-Taawoun five days later.

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