Yildiz is the kind of attacker elite clubs keep circling. He appears comfortable between the lines, can start wide or drift inside, and offers the sort of technical flexibility top Premier League sides value in crowded fixture periods.
For Arsenal, that matters.
Other reports have suggested Arsenal are looking at attacking options elsewhere too, which adds weight to the idea that the club still want another forward profile before the market shuts.
The mention of Martinelli is important, even if it is only shortlist interest for now. Al Hilal have become one of the clubs capable of testing resolve with aggressive offers, and that always changes the conversation.
But from an Arsenal perspective, selling Martinelli would create as many problems as it solves.
Unless the situation accelerates dramatically, this feels more like market noise than a deal close to breaking.
The key question is whether Arsenal are merely surveying the market or preparing to move. Reports around Yildiz suggest genuine interest, while the Martinelli update is more a reminder that top clubs must fend off attention as well as pursue targets. With Arsenal due to open their league campaign against Coventry on Friday, the next few days should show whether this is just transfer-window positioning or the start of a serious push.