Gabriel Martinelli has been voted Arsenal’s Player of the Month for September after a run of game-changing performances that underlined his value to Mikel Arteta’s side.
The Brazilian forward claimed 54 percent of the votes, finishing ahead of fellow nominees Martin Zubimendi, Gabriel and Leandro Trossard.
It is the fifth time Martinelli has picked up the award since joining Arsenal in 2019, but the first since January 2022, when he won back-to-back honours.
September proved a month defined by his influence off the bench. In the Champions League meeting with Athletic Club, Martinelli was introduced with the game still goalless and needed just 37 seconds to make an impact.
Sprinting onto a through ball, he charged at the defence before slotting confidently past Unai Simon to open the scoring. The winger later turned creator, driving into space and setting up Trossard to seal a 2-0 win in Bilbao that strengthened Arsenal’s start to their European campaign.
A few days later, Martinelli came to the rescue again in dramatic fashion. With Arsenal trailing 1-0 to Manchester City at the Emirates, he latched onto a perfectly-weighted pass from Ebere Eze in stoppage time and coolly lifted the ball over Gianluigi Donnarumma to secure a vital point.
That strike went on to win the BBC’s Match of the Day Goal of the Month and was shortlisted for the Premier League version.
Martinelli also featured in every other game during the month, coming off the bench against Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest and starting in the Carabao Cup third-round win over Port Vale.
Even when used sparingly, his sharp movement and direct running injected energy into Arsenal’s attack.
The 23-year-old’s resurgence comes at an important time for Arsenal, who have been without several attacking players through injury. His knack for turning tight contests into results has made him a crucial weapon in Arteta’s squad.
Since arriving from Ituano in 2019, Martinelli has built a reputation for stepping up when it matters, and September served as another reminder of his capacity to shift games in Arsenal’s favour.
His Player of the Month award is both recognition of his recent form and a statement of his growing maturity as one of the side’s most decisive figures.
