Arsenal’s Next Martinelli? Georgian starlet Bartishvili jets in as Arteta reshapes his attack
If you were wondering how Arsenal would plug the Martinelli-sized hole out wide, wonder no more. The Gunners have moved decisively for Andria Bartishvili, the much-touted Georgian teenager from Kolkheti 1913, with Fabrizio Romano reporting the lad has been snapped at the airport and is London-bound for his medical before penning a five-year deal. It’s a classic Emirates play: stock the pipeline now, reap the rewards later.
Arsenal have struck an agreement for Andria Bartishvili — and if you’re weighing up title odds and top-four races, our curated best betting sites can keep you in the know as this story develops.
Transfer snapshot
The Athletic confirmed on deadline day that Arsenal have an agreement to sign the 17-year-old, who is expected to officially link up once he turns 18 in 2027. The immediate plan is a medical and paperwork now, long-term integration later — the sort of forward-thinking admin Arsenal’s hierarchy have leaned into of late.
Arteta’s thinned frontline
Let’s be honest: the exits have bitten. Leandro Trossard has headed to Besiktas, Gabriel Jesus has joined Barcelona, and Gabriel Martinelli is on the cusp of a big-money switch to Al-Hilal. In came just one senior attacker in Christos Tzolis, leaving Mikel Arteta to juggle an attacking cast that currently features Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Tzolis, Viktor Gyökeres, Noni Madueke and the fearless 16-year-old Max Dowman. Given last season’s knocks to Saka and Havertz, they can’t ride their luck with fitness again if they fancy defending the Premier League crown and pushing one step further in Europe.
Why Bartishvili fits the brief
Bartishvili has already banked 44 senior appearances across Kolkheti 1913 and Iberia 1999 Tbilisi — proper minutes, not just youth cameos. He’s versatile enough to play off either flank or slip inside as a No 10, which screams Arteta profile: multifunctional, diligent, coachable. Given his Georgian roots and slippery dribbling, the inevitable comparison is Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, though that’s a heavy shirt to wear. Better to say he’s got the raw tools and the temperament that Arsenal’s staff feel they can hone.
The spotter’s badge
This pursuit has been driven by Maurizio Micheli — Andrea Berta’s long-time lieutenant — the same talent hawk credited with unearthing Kvaratskhelia at Napoli. When that calibre of scout bangs the table, clubs listen. Arsenal certainly have.
Short-term reality, long-term upside
Don’t expect Bartishvili to be flung straight into the Premier League mixer — the timeline points to a patient build. In the here and now, the onus falls on Tzolis to shoulder the Martinelli minutes and for Saka, Havertz and Gyökeres to share the goals. The emergence of Dowman — plus recent breakthroughs from Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly — proves Arteta isn’t shy about fast-tracking teenagers if they hit the training metrics.
Arsenal’s academy arms race
This deal caps a booming summer at youth level: Igor Tyjon from Blackburn (18), Vincent Joseph from Liverpool (16), Axel Donczew from Cardiff (16), Elijah Upson from Spurs (18), Mylo Bernard from Crystal Palace (16), the Quintero duo Edwin and Holger from Independiente del Valle (both 17), and Victor Ozhianvuna from Shamrock Rovers (17). It’s a conveyor belt strategy — fill the U18s and U21s with high-ceiling prospects, and let the best stick to the first team.
The Martinelli parallel
It’s easy to see why Gooners are drawing the line from Ituano to Kolkheti. Arsenal plucked Martinelli as a raw 18-year-old in 2019 for a modest fee and, despite the occasional frustration, turned him into a star who’s leaving for roughly ten times the price. His Arsenal ledger — 278 appearances, 62 goals, 36 assists — speaks to development done right. If Bartishvili follows even half that trajectory, the recruitment team will have another win on the board.
What to watch next
Keep an eye on the medical and contract formalities this week, and on how Arteta manages minutes across those wide roles with a tighter group. There’s also chatter that Arsenal could revisit a Premier League youngster down the line after an injury scuppered a summer move — one to file for January.
Pundit’s verdict
Smart, shrewd and suitably bold. Arsenal have accepted they can’t buy prime-time attackers every window, so they’re hedging with elite youth while trusting Arteta’s coaching to bridge the gap. Bartishvili won’t replace Martinelli tomorrow — but in a year or two, he might just make supporters forget they ever worried.
