Arteta defends Arsenal exit strategy as Pennant questions Saka's world-class credentials

Mikel Arteta has defended Arsenal’s handling of summer departures, saying someone must play “bad cop”, as former Gunners winger Jermaine Pennant publicly questioned whether Bukayo Saka deserves his world-class reputation.

The comments arrive as Arsenal prepare for a Premier League trip to Sunderland, having won their opening three league games — including an impressive victory over Chelsea — before making a winning start to their Champions League campaign courtesy of Martin Odegaard’s decisive goal.

Arteta responds to Jesus and Martinelli criticism

Gabriel Jesus, who joined Barcelona before the transfer window closed, told SportyTV that Arsenal had “out of nowhere” put him to train separately from the group and that “nobody told me nothing.” Arteta acknowledged the comments but stood by the club’s approach, pointing to Leandro Trossard’s presence in the stands to watch the Chelsea win as evidence of the bond Arsenal maintains with departing players. Trossard had been sold to Besiktas in July.

Arteta was also asked about Ian Wright’s statement that he felt “uncomfortable” with what the Arsenal legend perceived as a lack of communication with Gabriel Martinelli, who moved to Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League earlier this month. Arteta said he was “very surprised” by the characterisation, insisting he had held individual conversations in the dressing room with the players involved.

“Someone has to play bad cop,” Arteta said, framing the club’s decisions as a necessary part of squad management rather than a breakdown in relationships.

Pennant: Saka ‘gets away with murder at times’

Separately, Jermaine Pennant offered a pointed assessment of Saka, arguing that the England winger’s output does not match the elite billing he has been given. Speaking to GOAL, Pennant said that if a player is labelled among the best wingers in the world, the statistics must back it up — and in Saka’s case, he believes they do not.

“If you look at Mohamed Salah, he did it for nine years straight. In the bracket of goal contributions, it’s plus 20,” Pennant said. “I think he [Saka] does get away with a bit of murder at times. He can put in some absolutely stellar performances but if you look deep and you start digging deep and you look at his stats, compared to top wingers around the globe and who played in the Premier League as well, they fall quite short.”

Pennant, himself a former Hale End product, stopped short of dismissing Saka entirely but was clear that the Englishman has not yet produced the sustained numbers that would justify placing him in the game’s top tier.

Arsenal currently sit among the early-season Premier League pacesetters, and the visit to Sunderland — managed by Granit Xhaka, who has taken four points from his first four games in charge — offers Saka and his teammates the chance to respond on the pitch.