Mikel Arteta disputes claims regarding Gabriel Jesus' departure from Arsenal
6 sources • 2 min read • Latest: Sep 11, 2026, 1:33 PM
Last updated Sep 11, 2026

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed surprise regarding comments made by former forward Gabriel Jesus about his exit from the club this summer. Jesus, who transferred to Barcelona on deadline day, alleged he was excluded from group training and received no explanation regarding his future. Arteta stated he held an individual conversation with the player in the dressing room to discuss the decision. The manager acknowledged that delivering personnel decisions can lead to negative reactions from players, but emphasized that he maintains good relationships with former squad members. This dispute follows public scrutiny surrounding the handling of other forward departures, including Gabriel Martinelli, during a period of significant tactical reshaping of the Arsenal attacking front line.
- •Gabriel Jesus claimed he was excluded from group training without prior explanation.
- •Mikel Arteta maintains he held an individual meeting with the striker.
- •The departure was part of a broader restructuring of the Arsenal forward line.
- •Arteta stated he maintains good relationships with former players after their exit.
- 3:58 PMYahoo Sports — Mikel Arteta 'very surprised' in response to Gabriel Jesus' claims against Arsenal boss
- 3:50 PMYahoo Sports — Mikel Arteta hits back at Gabriel Jesus over Arsenal exit
- 1:33 PMYahoo Sports — Arteta ‘very surprised’ by Gabriel Jesus’ criticism after Arsenal exit
- 12:14 PMESPN Soccer — Arteta 'surprised' by criticism of Gabriel Jesus exit
- 11:22 AMYahoo Sports — Mikel Arteta responds to Gabriel Jesus criticism over Arsenal exit treatment
- 10:50 AMYahoo Sports — Arteta responds to ‘surprising’ Ian Wright and Gabriel Jesus claims
- 10:05 AMYahoo Sports — Arteta hits back against Gabriel Jesus claim on his Arsenal exit
- 9:19 AMYahoo Sports — Mikel Arteta 'Very Surprised' by Gabriel Jesus Arsenal Exit Comments
"Mikel Arteta admits he is “very surprised” by Gabriel Jesus’ claim that he was forced to train alone at Arsenal and received no communication before his transfer to Barcelona. Jesus joined the Spanish giants on September 1 after four years in north London and said in an interview with SportyTV this week that “out of nowhere they put me to train apart from the group”, adding that “nobody told me nothing”.
"Mikel Arteta Responds to Gabriel Jesus Exit Comments as Arsenal Questions GrowArsenal have a habit of trying to keep internal business tidy. That becomes harder when a former player goes public, and G...
"Mikel Arteta has pushed back against suggestions from Gabriel Jesus that no one talked to him prior to his exit from Arsenal to join Barcelona.Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty ImagesSpeaking following his...
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsSep 11, 2026, 3:58 PMMikel Arteta 'very surprised' in response to Gabriel Jesus' claims against Arsenal boss
Gabriel Jesus left Arsenal for Barcelona earlier this month, with the Brazilian forward claiming he was frozen out by Mikel Arteta in the days leading up to his move
- Yahoo SportsSep 11, 2026, 3:50 PMMikel Arteta hits back at Gabriel Jesus over Arsenal exit
Mikel Arteta Responds to Gabriel Jesus Exit Comments as Arsenal Questions GrowArsenal have a habit of trying to keep internal business tidy. That becomes harder when a former player goes public, and G...
- Yahoo SportsSep 11, 2026, 1:33 PMArteta ‘very surprised’ by Gabriel Jesus’ criticism after Arsenal exit
Mikel Arteta admits he is “very surprised” by Gabriel Jesus’ claim that he was forced to train alone at Arsenal and received no communication before his transfer to Barcelona. Jesus joined the Spanish giants on September 1 after four years in north London and said in an interview with SportyTV this week that “out of nowhere they put me to train apart from the group”, adding that “nobody told me nothing”.
- ESPN SoccerSep 11, 2026, 12:14 PMArteta 'surprised' by criticism of Gabriel Jesus exit
Mikel Arteta has said he is "very surprised" by criticism over Arsenal's handling of the departures of Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli this summer.
- Yahoo SportsSep 11, 2026, 11:22 AMMikel Arteta responds to Gabriel Jesus criticism over Arsenal exit treatment
Gabriel Jesus claimed he was made to train away from the rest of the squad before joining Barcelona
- Yahoo SportsSep 11, 2026, 10:50 AMArteta responds to ‘surprising’ Ian Wright and Gabriel Jesus claims
Mikel Arteta says he has a “very good” relationship with all the players that have left Arsenal over the years after the club came in for criticism from Ian Wright and Gabriel Jesus. In an intervi...
- Yahoo SportsSep 11, 2026, 10:05 AMArteta hits back against Gabriel Jesus claim on his Arsenal exit
Mikel Arteta has pushed back against suggestions from Gabriel Jesus that no one talked to him prior to his exit from Arsenal to join Barcelona.Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty ImagesSpeaking following his...
- Yahoo SportsSep 11, 2026, 9:19 AMMikel Arteta 'Very Surprised' by Gabriel Jesus Arsenal Exit Comments
Mikel Arteta has responded to Gabriel Jesus' account of his final weeks at Arsenal, insisting he held an individual conversation with the striker before his move to Barcelona.
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