Mikel Arteta has said he is “very surprised” by allegations from Gabriel Jesus that he was made to train away from the squad without explanation before leaving to join Barcelona.
Jesus departed north London for the Spanish side on 1 September after four years with Arsenal. Speaking to SportyTV this week, the forward claimed that “out of nowhere they put me to train apart from the group”, adding that “nobody told me nothing”.
The Arsenal manager pointed to Leandro Trossard attending last Sunday’s win against Chelsea as proof of the ongoing connection maintained with past players. Trossard was sold to Besiktas in July.
Arteta was also asked about remarks from Ian Wright, who admitted feeling “uncomfortable” with what the former Gunners striker perceived as a lack of communication regarding Gabriel Martinelli’s move to Al Hilal on 3 September.
Looking ahead to Saturday’s Premier League match against 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 also revealed Arsenal were equipped to manage travel delays ahead of Wednesday’s tie with Napoli because he purposely disrupted pre-season preparations.
UK air traffic control issues caused a delay of several hours to their flight to Naples on Tuesday. The team subsequently won 1-0 in the Champions League the next night, with Arteta noting his squad had been coached on how to manage unexpected problems.
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.”
Regarding team fitness, Ben White is available to play against Sunderland, while Jurrien Timber is close to making his return from injury.
