Having already scored 5 goals and provided 1 assist across all competitions this season, Gabriel Martinelli remains the first choice winger on the left flank for the current Premier League and Champions League table leaders, Arsenal.
The Brazilian international completed 6 years with the Gunners this summer and has 2 more years remaining in his contract with the North Londoners with a further option to extend his deal by another year.
His most important goal in the Premier League came earlier this season during stoppage time against Manchester City which helped his team to avoid a loss in a crucial early title race decider fixture. The Gunners are still unbeaten in the Premier League when the Brazilian international has found himself on the scoresheet, having won 30 times and drawing just 8 times.
Although he was born and raised in Guarulhos, Sao Paulo, Brazil, and represents the Brazilian national team, the FA Cup winner also carries a strong connection to Europe, with his family lineage tracing back to Italy through his father, Joao Martinelli, adding an extra layer of heritage to his story.
The 24 year-old holds dual citizenship of both Brazil and Italy, having been born to an Italian father. His surname, ‘Martinelli’ is also of Italian origin, adding to his dual nationality. This makes him a part of the Brazilian-Italian community, a group that is especially large in Sao Paulo.
Since he holds Italian citizenship, this makes the Gunner eligible to represent the Azzurri, the Italian national team. During his early years with the North Londoners, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) were keen on having the young Brazilian represent the Italian national team and made contact with the players’ representatives, hoping to convince the young Brazilian to turn his back on his birth nation and commit to representing Italy instead.
Should the now Brazilian representative had chosen to switch to play for the Azzurri, he would’ve been part of the Italian squad that saw them lifting the UEFA European Championships in 2021. This would’ve made him the third Brazilian origin player to play for the Italian national team, after former Chelsea duo Emerson Palmieri and Jorginho.
It won’t be the first time we see a football player switch their allegiances from one country to another. The closest example being fellow Arsenal teammate, Declan Rice who shares Irish ancestry on both sides of his family. After playing 3 senior friendlies for Ireland, the former West Ham United captain switched allegiances to bitter rivals, England, where he has become a key starter.
Many fans around the world are still strangers to Martinelli’s dual ancestry with many wondering about his special affiliation towards Italians, especially towards former and current teammates, Jorginho and Riccardo Calafiori, respectively.
Martinelli being best friends with Italians needs to be studied https://t.co/PHBoxWaBbi
— S👻 (@scrapytweets) November 24, 2025
Calafiori and Martinelli were seen excitedly celebrating the Gunners’ win against local rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the first North London Derby of the season, after the Italian international played most of the full ninety minutes with the latter remaining as an unused sub for Mikel Arteta’s men.
Did you know about Gabriel Martinelli’s Italian ancestry? Let us know in the comments down below.
