Arteta accepts ‘bad cop’ role as Arsenal departures spark criticism

Mikel Arteta says he is prepared to be the “bad cop” at Arsenal after facing criticism over the way Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli left the club this summer.

Jesus claimed “no one told me anything” about why he had been asked to train away from the first-team squad before completing a €15m move to Barcelona.

Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright also questioned how Martinelli had been treated after the forward was left out of Arteta’s squads for the opening matches of the season. Martinelli subsequently joined Al Hilal in a deal worth £60m.

Asked about the reaction to the departures, Arteta said he was surprised by the criticism.

“I’m extremely surprised, to be honest, especially as I had a one-to-one conversation with Jesus in the dressing room,” said the Arsenal manager.

“I don’t know what words were said, but it is down to me. The words we used with each other were about gratitude.

“I don’t know. Everything is fine, and sometimes I understand that when you have to deliver bad news or news people are not expecting, there can be reactions like that.”

Arteta also referred to Leandro Trossard, who left Arsenal for Besiktas in a €18m transfer this summer. Trossard returned to Emirates Stadium to watch Arsenal’s 2-1 victory over Chelsea last Sunday.

“Someone has to play the bad cop,” Arteta added. “If I have to be that person, I will be and I understand that.

“What usually matters is what happens three or six months later, when Trossard comes and is with us in the dressing room, the atmosphere and the relationship we have.

“Things reached their limit with other players before they left, but at one point the relationship was very good. I hope that will be the case with the two of them.”

Arsenal will attempt to maintain their perfect start to the season when they travel to face Sunderland on Saturday evening.

Arteta also provided an update on his squad after Wednesday’s 2-1 Champions League victory over Napoli. He said Ben White was “fine” after appearing to limp at the end of the match.

Christian Mosquera, meanwhile, is undergoing medical assessment as Arsenal monitor a muscle problem.