Mikel Arteta says he is surprised by the backlash Arsenal have received over the exits of Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli ahead of the new season.

Jesus departed the club for Barcelona in a deal worth €15 million, having trained away from the first team before the move was finalised. The Brazilian forward claimed he was given no explanation for the decision, stating that "nobody told me anything."

Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright also raised concerns about the treatment of Martinelli, who was omitted from Arteta's matchday squads at the beginning of the campaign before completing a £60 million transfer to Al Hilal.

Arteta's response

Speaking on Friday, Arteta addressed the controversy head-on. "Very surprised, to be fair, especially because with Gabi [Jesus] I had an individual talk in the dressing room. I don't know what words were said, it is fine," he said, via ESPN.

"The words we used for each other, it was all about gratitude. I don't know, it is OK. Sometimes I understand when you have to deliver bad news or news that people don't expect, those things [you can] react [to]."

Trossard's return as a reference point

Arteta pointed to the case of Leandro Trossard — who also left the club this summer in a €18 million switch to Besiktas — as evidence that departures need not end in bad blood. Trossard returned to Emirates Stadium last Sunday as Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1.

"Somebody has to be the bad cop. If I have to be, I have to be and I understand," Arteta added. "What is important is normally what happens three months later, six months later, when Trossard comes in, he is in the dressing room with us, the atmosphere and the relationship you have."

The Arsenal manager was philosophical about the longer arc of such relationships. "Things got so far with other players that they left, at some point the relationship has been really good. I hope that is the same case," he concluded.