Mikel Arteta Defends Arsenal's Handling of Player Departures

Mikel Arteta has pushed back hard against claims that Arsenal mishandled the departures of Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli, insisting difficult conversations did take place and relationships remain intact.

The Arsenal manager found himself at the centre of a storm this week after Jesus, now at Barcelona following a £12.5m move, revealed his anger at how his exit unfolded. The Brazilian said "nobody told me anything" after being told to train away from the senior squad in the build-up to his transfer.

Those comments poured fuel on an already sensitive topic at Arsenal, with club legend Ian Wright having publicly questioned the treatment of Martinelli. The winger was frozen out of early-season squads before sealing a £60m switch to Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal, sparking debate over how Arteta handles high-profile outgoings.

On Friday, Arteta drew a firm line.

“Very surprised, to be fair, especially because with Gabi [Jesus] I had an individual talk in the dressing room,” he said. “I don't know what words were said, it is fine.”

He stressed that, from his perspective, the final exchanges with Jesus were respectful and appreciative.

“The words we used for each other, it was all about gratitude,” Arteta explained. “I don't know, it is OK. Sometimes I understand when you have to deliver bad news or news that people don't expect, those things you can react to.”

Arteta did not directly engage with Wright’s criticism over Martinelli, but the theme of his response was clear: tough calls are part of the job, and they do not have to poison long-term relationships.

To underline his point, he turned to a recent example. Leandro Trossard, who joined Besiktas for £15m in the summer, returned to the Emirates Stadium dressing room after Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Chelsea and was warmly welcomed by his former team-mates.

For Arteta, that reunion mattered.

“Somebody has to be the bad cop,” he said. “If I have to be, I have to be and I understand. What is important is normally what happens three months later, six months later, when Trossard comes in, he is in the dressing room with us, the atmosphere and the relationship you have.”

That is the timeline he hopes will apply to Jesus and Martinelli. Tempers may flare in the moment; time, he believes, will soften edges.

“Things got so far with other players that they left, at some point the relationship has been really good,” he added. “I hope that is the same case.”

For now, Arsenal have little interest in letting the noise around ex-players seep into their season. They travel to Sunderland on Saturday night intent on preserving a perfect start to the campaign and building on a statement Champions League win in Naples.

The midweek victory over Napoli has lifted confidence and, crucially, did not deliver any serious damage. Arteta confirmed that Ben White, who limped late on in Italy, is “fine” and available. Cristhian Mosquera, though, will be monitored after feeling a muscular issue.

Selection dilemmas, fitness checks, managing egos, saying goodbye to big names. Arteta knows all of it comes with the territory. His message is blunt: judge him by the team that walks out at Sunderland, not by the echoes of the ones who have already left.