Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has pushed back against criticism of the club’s handling of Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli, insisting that difficult decisions over player departures do not necessarily damage relationships.

The comments came after Jesus said he was not given an explanation for why he had been asked to train away from Arsenal’s first team before completing his €15 million move to Barcelona.

Martinelli also attracted scrutiny after being left out of Arsenal’s opening matchday squads before his £60 million transfer to Al Hilal.

Key Takeaways

• Mikel Arteta says he was surprised by criticism of Arsenal’s handling of Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli.
• Arteta said he had a private conversation with Jesus before the Brazilian left Arsenal.
• Jesus had said that “nobody told me anything” about why he was asked to train away from the first team.
• Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright questioned Martinelli’s treatment before his move to Al Hilal.
• Arteta used Leandro Trossard’s departure and subsequent return to the Emirates as an example of how difficult exits can still leave relationships intact.
• The Arsenal manager said the relationship between a club and departing player should also be judged months after a difficult decision.

Arteta Says He Was Surprised By The Criticism

Arteta said he was “very surprised” that questions had been raised about the way Arsenal handled the two departures.

The Arsenal boss particularly addressed Jesus’ comments, revealing that he had spoken privately with the Brazilian before his exit.

“Very surprised, to be fair, especially because with Gabi [Jesus] I had an individual talk in the dressing room.”

Arteta acknowledged that conversations surrounding unwanted or unexpected decisions can be difficult for players.

He suggested that emotions can naturally run high when footballers receive news they were not expecting, while maintaining that his discussion with Jesus ended on a positive note.

“The words we used for each other, it was all about gratitude.”

Why Jesus’ Exit Came Under Scrutiny

Jesus had previously said “nobody told me anything” when discussing his period training away from Arsenal’s first team before his move to Barcelona.

That account helped fuel questions about how the club communicated with the forward during the final stage of his Arsenal career.

Arteta, however, presented a different picture of his dealings with the player, pointing to the private conversation they had before Jesus completed his departure.

The difference between the two accounts is central to the criticism surrounding Jesus’ exit.

Martinelli’s Departure Also Raised Questions

Jesus was not the only player whose Arsenal departure prompted criticism.

Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright also questioned the treatment of Martinelli after the winger was left out of the club’s opening matchday squads.

Martinelli subsequently completed a £60 million move to Al Hilal.

While the circumstances surrounding the two departures were different, the criticism placed Arteta in the position of explaining how Arsenal manages difficult decisions involving established players.

Arteta Points To What Happens After A Player Leaves

Rather than focusing only on the final moments of a player’s Arsenal career, Arteta argued that relationships should also be judged by what happens afterwards.

He used Leandro Trossard as an example.

Trossard left Arsenal for Besiktas in an €18 million deal this summer but returned to the Emirates last Sunday for Arsenal’s 2-1 victory over Chelsea.

For Arteta, that interaction was evidence that a difficult decision does not necessarily have to permanently damage the relationship between a manager, club and player.

“Somebody has to be the bad cop. If I have to be, I have to be, and I understand.”

The Arsenal manager’s point was that managers will sometimes have to deliver decisions that players do not want to hear.

The Trossard Example

Arteta said the more important measure is what the relationship looks like months after the difficult decision has been made.

He pointed to Trossard’s return to the dressing room as an example of how a player can leave under complicated circumstances while still maintaining a positive relationship with those at the club.

“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.”

The example helps explain why Arteta does not appear to view the Jesus and Martinelli situations solely through the circumstances of their departures.

Arteta Hopes Jesus And Martinelli Can Have Similar Relationships

Arteta acknowledged that some player relationships can reach a point where a departure becomes necessary.

He nevertheless expressed hope that the relationships involved in the latest exits can eventually be viewed in a similar way to his relationship with Trossard.

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

His comments therefore amount to more than a defence of individual decisions.

They also offer an insight into how Arteta views the difficult side of managing a squad: not every decision will satisfy a player, but the relationship should ultimately be judged beyond the moment when the decision is delivered.

What Arteta’s Comments Mean For The Arsenal Departures

The controversy surrounding Jesus and Martinelli highlights the difficult balance clubs face when managing established players.

A manager may have to make decisions that affect a player’s role, training arrangements or future, while the player may have a different understanding of how those decisions were communicated.

Arteta’s position is that such disagreements do not automatically mean the relationship between the two sides has broken down.

For now, his defence rests on his account of the conversation with Jesus and his broader argument that difficult departures can still be followed by positive relationships.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Arteta defend Arsenal’s handling of Jesus and Martinelli?

Arteta defended the club after criticism emerged over how the two players were treated before leaving Arsenal. He said he was particularly surprised by the criticism surrounding Jesus.

What did Gabriel Jesus say about his Arsenal exit?

Jesus said “nobody told me anything” when discussing why he had been asked to train away from Arsenal’s first team before his move to Barcelona.

What did Arteta say about his conversation with Jesus?

Arteta said he had an individual conversation with Jesus in the dressing room before the player’s departure and described their exchange as being about gratitude.

Why was Gabriel Martinelli’s treatment questioned?

Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright questioned Martinelli’s treatment after the winger was left out of Arsenal’s opening matchday squads before completing his move to Al Hilal.

What example did Arteta use to explain his position?

Arteta referred to Leandro Trossard, who left Arsenal for Besiktas but later returned to the Emirates and was back around the Arsenal dressing room.

What is Arteta’s broader point about player departures?

Arteta’s broader argument is that difficult decisions do not necessarily destroy relationships. He believes what happens months after a departure can be an important measure of the relationship between the player and the club.

The Bigger Picture

Arteta’s response shows the tension that can arise when a club’s management decisions and a departing player’s experience are viewed differently.

For Arsenal, the important issue is not simply that Jesus and Martinelli have moved on. It is also how those exits are remembered by the players, the manager and the club.

Arteta appears to believe that difficult conversations are sometimes unavoidable in football, but they do not have to define a relationship permanently.

As he put it, the real test may come “three months later, six months later” when former players return and the relationship can be seen beyond the circumstances of their departure.