Arteta 'very surprised' by Jesus criticism over Arsenal's cold-shoulder transfer exit

Mikel Arteta has described himself as “very surprised” by Gabriel Jesus’s public criticism of Arsenal’s handling of his exit, after the Brazilian forward claimed he was given no warning before being separated from the first-team training group ahead of his £8.5 million move to Barcelona this summer.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference before Arsenal’s fixture against Sunderland on Saturday, Arteta said the two men had spoken privately and parted on good terms. “With Gabriel I had an individual talk in the dressing room,” Arteta told reporters. “The words that we used for each other, it was all about gratitude. So, I don’t know, it’s okay.”

Jesus, who joined Barcelona in the closing stages of the summer window after falling behind Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres in Arsenal’s striker pecking order, told SportyTV that the process had been abrupt and opaque. “Nobody told me nothing,” he said. “From nothing, they put me to train away from the group.” He added that the eventual deal came together in a single day through work between his agent and Barcelona sporting director Deco, and that he accepted immediately.

Jesus was one of several players moved on by Arsenal during the window. Gabriel Martinelli departed for Al-Hilal in a club-record sale, while Leandro Trossard, Christian Norgaard, Fabio Vieira and Reiss Nelson also left. The manner of the exits drew comment from club legend Ian Wright, who said he felt “uncomfortable” watching the way Martinelli was cast aside.

Arteta acknowledged that delivering unwanted news can provoke an emotional reaction, but suggested that the true measure of his relationships with departing players emerges over time. “Sometimes I understand when you have to deliver bad news or news that people don’t expect — those things are reactive,” he said. “What is important is normally what happens three months later, six months later. With all the players that left, at some point their relationship has been really good. I hope that’s the same case.”

The public back-and-forth puts a rare spotlight on Arsenal’s internal transfer management at a moment when Arteta’s squad-building decisions are otherwise drawing widespread praise. Whether Jesus’s account or Arteta’s version of events more accurately reflects what happened inside the club’s training ground is likely to remain a matter of competing perspectives.