MIKEL ARTETA was left “very surprised” by Gabriel Jesus’ claims that the Brazilian was frozen out of Arsenal training without being told anything by anyone.
Jesus, 29, claimed his absence from first-team training came “from nothing” as he was made to train alone ahead of his £8.6m transfer to Barcelona.
But Arsenal boss Arteta has hit back at the striker’s comments, claiming that he had an individual conversation with Jesus beforehand.
He said: “Very surprised, to be fair. Especially because with Gabriel I had an individual talk in the dressing room.
“I don’t know what the words were said, it’s fine. And the words that we used for each other, it was all about gratitude.
“So, I don’t know, it’s okay. Sometimes I understand when you have to deliver bad news or news that people don’t expect. Those things are reactive.
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“Somebody has to be the bad cop. If I have to be, I have to be, and I understand.”
Arteta is hopeful that there is no bad blood between him and Jesus, who scored 32 goals in 123 appearances for the Gunners before his summer exit.
The Spaniard revealed that Leandro Trossard, who also left the club for Besiktas this summer, was welcomed back into the dressing room with open arms when he returned to the Emirates to watch Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1 on Sunday.
And Arteta is hoping that Jesus will be able to return in a similar fashion in the future.
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Saturday 12 September
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He added: “What is important is normally what happens three months later, six months later.
“When Trossard comes in, he’s in the dressing room with all of us, the atmosphere and the relationship you have.
“Thanks God, so far, with all the players that they left, at some point their relationship has been really good. I hope that’s the same case.”