Mikel Arteta hits back at Gabriel Jesus after making accusations against Arsenal boss

Mikel Arteta has responded to Gabriel Jesus(Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Mikel Arteta has admitted he was "very surprised" by Gabriel Jesus after the former Arsenal forward claimed he trained on his own and was told "nothing" in the days before his move to Barcelona.

Jesus, 29, left the Gunners to join Barca in a £8.6million deal earlier this month. He had spent four years at the Emirates Stadium, scoring 32 goals in 123 appearances, and helped them win the Premier League title last season.

But the Brazilian had fallen behind Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres in the pecking order, and was deemed surplus to requirements with Arsenal keen to offload before the summer transfer window shut.

Despite interest from Napoli and Atletico Madrid among others, the Gunners sold Jesus to Barca on September 1. The former Manchester City man penned a three-year contract at the Catalan side and he scored on his home debut during Wednesday's thumping 5-1 win against Feyenoord in the Champions League.

Before that, however, Jesus said in an interview earlier this week that Arteta FROZE him out from first-team training and made him train alone before he left the club and moved to Barca.

Speaking to SportyTV, Jesus said: "So, the truth is, I was training, I did all the pre-season with Arsenal as normal. Obviously, I knew already that probably I would not play there or get many opportunities, but nobody told me nothing. Well, I am a professional. Obviously, I was training with the group.

"Then, from nothing, they put me to train away from the group. Well, I was training, I was doing my maximum to be ready if I have a chance to play at a high level again. Then, obviously, in the last week, it was very quick.

Gabriel Jesus scored on his Barcelona home debut(Image: Getty Images)

"The work with Deco, the president of the club, and my agent was amazing. In one day, it was sure that I would have the opportunity to come (to Barcelona). I said yes, straight away, no matter what, and I am so happy to be here."

Now, speaking in his pre-Sunderland press conference, Arteta has issued a response to Jesus and admitted he is shocked by the comments.

"Very surprised, to be fair especially because with Gabriel I had an individual talk in the dressing room," Arteta said, when asked by football.london about Jesus. "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.

"Somebody has to be there to back up, if I have to be. I have to be. And I understand. What is important is normally what happens three months later, six months later, when [Leandro] Trossard comes in, he's in the dressing room with all of us, the atmosphere and the relation you have and 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."

Jesus was one of 10 players to leave Arsenal this summer. Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, Jakub Kiwior, Fabio Viera, Christian Norgaard, Karl Hein, Reiss Nelson were the others to depart the Gunners for good, while Ethan Nwaneri and Tommy Setford were sent out on loan.

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