Saudi Pro League: Al Hilal Suffer Shock 0-2 Defeat, Martinelli Struggles as Ronaldo's Team Benefit

To be honest, I was stunned when I saw this result. Who are Al Hilal? Their squad value is reportedly €190 million, the highest in the Saudi Pro League, and they are considered to have the strongest squad in the league. Yet they were completely outplayed by a team valued at only €82.5 million, a scenario nobody expected.

The flow of the match also revealed some clues. NEOM SC created three clear chances during the game, while Al Hilal had only one. Football can be this straightforward sometimes: taking chances is what matters, and a higher squad value cannot play the game for you.

The two first-half goals came quickly, with one being an own goal from Kalidou Koulibaly and the other finished by Kone. Al Hilal made substitutions and changed tactics in the second half, but still could not complete a comeback and lost three points. Such upsets are not entirely unusual in the Saudi Pro League, as strong teams can underestimate opponents while determined underdogs fight hard.

However, the most disappointing aspect of this match was Martinelli's performance. The former Arsenal forward entered the Saudi Pro League as the €70 million record signing, but after two matches he has recorded 0 goals and 0 assists, with poor ratings. In his first match against Al Shabab, he came on as a substitute for 22 minutes and had 0 shots on target, 0 successful dribbles and 0 key passes. Against NEOM SC, he started and played 84 minutes, with only 1 of his 4 shots on target, 0 successful dribbles and 0 key passes, receiving a rating of just 6.6.

Putting it harshly, this does not look like a case of a player dominating at a lower level. It feels more like a combination of adapting difficulties and poor form. A player who scored just one goal and provided four assists in the Premier League last season has struggled to even maintain a warm-up match level after moving to the Middle East, creating a huge contrast.

Looking back at Arsenal's deal, Arteta made an excellent piece of business. Tsolis, signed for €40 million, has already shown his ability with three assists in Arsenal's system, while Martinelli was sold at a premium, allowing Arsenal not only to avoid losses but also to earn nearly €30 million.

What is this called? It is called cutting losses at the right time. Arteta judged the situation accurately. Martinelli was never the most suitable fit in Arsenal's tactical system, and instead of keeping a player who was not fully utilized, the club chose to sell while he still had high market value. The decision has proven correct.

Now let's look at Al Hilal's major investment. This summer they brought in three Premier League forwards at once: Martinelli for €70 million, West Ham's Summerville for €64.5 million and Villa's Watkins for €58.4 million, totaling nearly €200 million. No other Saudi Pro League team can match this scale.

But the problem is that football is not a pay-to-win game, and spending money does not guarantee improvement. These three players have yet to prove themselves in the Saudi Pro League, especially Martinelli, whose first two performances have been difficult to praise. The 'Premier League front three' bought by Al Hilal's management currently looks more like an expensive unfinished product.

By comparison, Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr spent only €22 million in total this summer, with investment levels nowhere near Al Hilal's. But can anyone say Ronaldo's team is not competitive? They currently have four wins and one defeat with 12 points, sitting second and close behind league leaders Al Hilal. Football is sometimes unpredictable, and experience and mentality can matter more than money.

The league table situation is also interesting. Al Hilal lead with 15 points from five wins and one defeat after playing one extra match, while Al Nassr and Al Qadsiah both have four wins and one defeat with 12 points in second and third. This means Al Hilal are only three points ahead of the teams behind them and still have a match left to play, so their position is far from secure.

This defeat to NEOM SC has handed momentum to their rivals. If Al Nassr can maintain their rhythm and Al Hilal suffer further setbacks, the balance of the title race could shift. The Saudi Pro League has far more suspense than many people imagined.

One detail is worth noting: the Saudi royal family's support for Al Hilal is indeed substantial, from transfer budgets to club operations. However, this level of investment has not yet translated into dominance on the pitch, showing that money can buy players but cannot buy chemistry.

Martinelli's time at Arsenal was not considered especially successful, and the €40 million transfer fee was already debated at the time. Now that he has been bought by the Saudi Pro League for €70 million, calling him 'Arsenal's waste' may be excessive, but saying Arsenal completed an extremely smart deal is an objective assessment.

Tsolis's performances for Arsenal have already demonstrated his value, while Martinelli's struggles in the Middle East have reinforced the correctness of Arteta's decision to let him leave. The contrast between these two deals is enough to make football managers reconsider one question: what standards should be used to measure a player's value?

Ultimately, nobody can fully predict what happens on a football pitch. Although Al Hilal have the strongest squad on paper in the league, trophies are not automatically delivered because of high transfer values. Ronaldo and Al Nassr may have regained hope in the title race thanks to this unexpected 'gift'.

We will wait and see how the upcoming fixtures develop. The story of the Saudi Pro League is only beginning to enter its most exciting chapter.