Mikel Arteta Defends Arsenal's Departure Handling of Gabriel Jesus and Martinelli
Mikel Arteta has pushed back hard against criticism of Arsenal’s handling of two of their biggest recent departures, insisting the club did not leave Gabriel Jesus or Gabriel Martinelli in the dark over their exits.
The Arsenal manager was drawn into the row after Jesus admitted his anger over the way his £12.5m move to Barcelona unfolded, claiming “nobody told me anything” when he was told to train away from the senior group before the transfer was completed.
Those comments poured fuel on an already lively debate. Ian Wright had already questioned Arsenal’s treatment of Martinelli, who found himself completely frozen out of early-season matchday squads before sealing a £60m switch to Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal.
Arteta, speaking on Friday, dismissed the idea that either forward had been mistreated or misinformed.
“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.”
Arteta stressed that his final conversations with Jesus were cordial and respectful, not cold or confrontational.
“The words we used for each other, it was all about gratitude,” he 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].”
The Spaniard knows exactly how brutal elite football can look from the outside. Players frozen out. Training ground whispers. Sudden exits. But he insisted there is a longer story behind the snapshots.
To underline his point, he brought up Leandro Trossard. The Belgian left this summer in a £15m move to Besiktas, yet was back in the Emirates Stadium dressing room after Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Chelsea, laughing and embracing his former team-mates.
For Arteta, that reunion said more about how Arsenal handle departures than any social media storm.
“Somebody has to be the bad cop. If I have to be, I have to be and I understand,” he said. “What is important is normally what happens three months later, six months later, when Trossard comes in, he is the dressing room with us, the atmosphere and the relationship you have.”
He accepts that decisions hurt in the moment. He also believes time can soften almost anything.
“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, Arteta has little interest in prolonging the war of words. Arsenal have a perfect start to protect and a trip to Sunderland on Saturday night that offers no room for distraction. The message inside the camp is clear: shut out the noise, keep winning.
Confidence is high after Wednesday’s Champions League victory away to Napoli, a result that reinforced the sense of momentum building around this Arsenal side.
Arteta also moved to calm any nerves over Ben White, who limped towards the end of that game in Italy. The defender is “fine”, according to the manager. Cristhian Mosquera is less certain; the defender is being assessed as he deals with a muscular issue.
The debate around Jesus and Martinelli will rumble on outside the club. Inside, Arteta is betting that results, relationships and time will tell a very different story.
