Mikel Arteta has rejected Gabriel Jesus’ account of his departure from Arsenal, saying he was “very surprised” by the Brazilian’s claim that he was isolated from the squad and left uninformed before joining Barcelona.
Jesus brought his four-year spell at Arsenal to an end in September when he moved to Barcelona, but the striker has since voiced his disappointment over how the transfer was handled.
In an interview this week, Jesus claimed Arsenal suddenly instructed him to train away from his teammates and failed to explain the reasons for the decision.
“Out of nowhere they put me to train apart from the group,” he said, adding that “nobody told me nothing” before he completed his move to the Catalan club.
Arteta, speaking to reporters on Friday, disputed the suggestion that there had been no communication between the pair, insisting that he had spoken privately with Jesus about the situation before his departure.
“Very surprised, to be fair. Especially because with Gabi (Jesus) I had an individual talk in the dressing room,” the Arsenal manager said.
“I don’t know what words were said; it’s fine. The words that we used were all about gratitude.”
The controversy has added to questions about Arsenal’s relationship with players who leave the club, following criticism from former striker Ian Wright over Gabriel Martinelli’s departure.
Wright recently admitted he was “uncomfortable” with what he regarded as a lack of dialogue between Arsenal and Martinelli before the winger joined Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal on September 3.
Arteta defended the club’s handling of departures, acknowledging that managers can sometimes be required to deliver decisions that players do not want to hear.
“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,” he said.
The Spaniard pointed to Leandro Trossard as an example of a former player who has maintained a positive relationship with the club after leaving.
Trossard, who joined Besiktas in July, returned to the Emirates last weekend to watch Arsenal beat Chelsea and subsequently spent time in the dressing room with his former teammates.
“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,” Arteta said.
“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 will now turn his attention to Arsenal’s Premier League trip to Sunderland on Saturday, with Jesus’ comments adding another layer to the scrutiny surrounding the club’s recent player departures.
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