Mikel Arteta surprised by Gabriel Jesus criticism after leaving Arsenal

Mikel Arteta has expressed his astonishment at Gabriel Jesus’s public criticism regarding the manner of his Arsenal departure.

Arteta Voices Surprise Over Jesus Exit Criticism

The striker completed a deadline-day switch to Barcelona for a reported €10m, concluding a four-year tenure in North London.

Jesus’s exit followed his slide down the pecking order after the arrival of Viktor Gyokeres.

The Brazilian international later claimed that communication regarding his future was inadequate, stating he trained with the first team throughout pre-season before being abruptly instructed to train alone. These remarks have prompted a response from the Arsenal manager.

“I was very surprised, to be honest,” Arteta stated ahead of his side’s Premier League clash with Sunderland.

“Especially because with Gabi, I had a private conversation in the dressing room… the words that we exchanged between ourselves were all of gratitude.”

The forward, who struggled with a serious knee injury for much of 2025, told SportyTV that he sensed his limited prospects but received no clarity from the club.

“Nobody was telling me anything,” Jesus explained. “I was training with the group and suddenly they put me to train separately.”

While Arteta did not directly challenge Jesus’s account of being moved away from the main group, he defended the necessity of difficult decisions.

“When you have to give bad news… those reactions are natural,” he noted.

“Someone needs to be there to support them. If I have to be that person, I will be.”

Despite the disagreement, Jesus has adapted quickly to life in Spain. He has already scored his first goal for Barcelona, a header in their 5-1 Champions League victory over Feyenoord.

That strike drew him level with Rivaldo on 27 Champions League goals, showcasing his enduring quality on the continental stage.

For Arsenal, attention now shifts entirely to a new attacking setup centered on Gyokeres.

However, Arteta’s comments highlight a lingering divergence in how Jesus’s final chapter at the Emirates concluded.