Mikel Arteta admits he is “very surprised” by Gabriel Jesus‘ claim that he was forced to train alone at Arsenal and received no communication before his transfer to Barcelona.
Jesus joined the Spanish giants on September 1 after four years in north London and said in an interview with SportyTV this week that “out of nowhere they put me to train apart from the group”, adding that “nobody told me nothing”.
Arsenal boss Arteta used the presence of Leandro Trossard in the stands to watch last Sunday’s victory over Chelsea as an example of the club’s bond with their former players. Trossard was sold to Besiktas in July.
Arteta was also asked about Ian Wright’s recent comment that he was “uncomfortable” with what the Gunners great perceived to be a lack of dialogue with Gabriel Martinelli, who moved to Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal on September 3.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash with Sunderland, Arteta said: “Very surprised, to be fair.
“Especially because with Gabi (Jesus) I had an individual talk in the dressing room. I don’t know what words were said, it’s fine. The words that we used were all about gratitude.
“I don’t know, it’s OK. Sometimes I understand that when you have to deliver bad news, or news that people don’t expect, somebody has to be the bad cop. If I have to be, I have to be and I understand.
“What is important is normally what happens three months or six months later. When Trossard comes, he’s in the dressing room with all of us, the atmosphere and the relationship you have.
“Thank God so far that with all the players that left, at some point the relationship has been really good. I hope this is the same case.”
Arteta insists Arsenal were ready for the travel disruption they endured before facing Napoli on Wednesday after he deliberately sabotaged preparations for some of their pre-season matches.
The air traffic control issues experienced in the UK this week meant the Gunners’ flight to Naples on Tuesday was delayed by several hours.
They went on to register a 1-0 victory in the Champions League match the following night and Arteta says his players had already been drilled in how best to react when plans unravel.
He said: “I love those challenges. I tried to create them in pre-season, so when they happen we have already experienced them and we already know.
“Get to the stadium very late, change the routine so the players have to do something else.
“When it happens, and it can be because you can miss the flight, or the train is delayed, there is so much traffic – I don’t want the players and staff panicking.
“When that happens, adapt to it. OK, we have another two or three hours on the plane – how can we use it?
“Play together, spend some time together, sleep. Use it and don’t complain or use it as an excuse because it’s not helpful at all.”
Ben White has been passed fit to take on Sunderland while Jurrien Timber‘s long-awaited return from injury is imminent.
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