Four players who have fallen out with Mikel Arteta at Arsenal – 'I'll never say sorry!'

Mikel Arteta has transformed Arsenal into title contenders but the manager has made some difficult decisions during his tenure

Mikel Arteta has made several bold decisions while chasing trophies at Arsenal. Since taking over from Unai Emery at the Emirates Stadium in December 2019, he's moulded the Gunners into a side capable of consistently challenging for major honours.

While the FA Cup remains Arteta's sole trophy from his time at the helm, the Spanish coach has led a cultural transformation at Arsenal. The 44-year-old is attempting to deliver the club's first Premier League title in more than 20 years and the Gunners could take a giant step forward with a positive result against rivals Manchester City this weekend.

However, the journey hasn't been straightforward, with the manager facing numerous tough calls and uncomfortable situations along the way. football.london has looked at four players who clashed with Arteta at Arsenal.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Aubameyang notably fell out of favour with Arteta in December 2021 following a late return from an authorised trip to visit his sick mother in France. Speaking to The Athletic, the former Arsenal forward acknowledged his error.

"My mistake," Aubameyang said, subsequently finding himself sidelined by the Gunners boss. "I should have come back the night before, but I arrived in the morning. I didn't tell them that I would miss the flight because I was preoccupied with my mum's stuff.

"I went directly to a team meeting. Everything was normal. After that, he (Arteta) said: 'Come with me'. This is where he started shouting. He said I could not do this because I was the captain and it was not acceptable.

"He said I gave him a knife in his back; I don't know why he said that. I was really p***** off because it was not true and he knew why I flew. He knew the reason and what was happening, he knew I was struggling that year. I was expecting help from him, not killing me like this.

"When I'm late, it's my fault - no problem. I always said sorry. But in this case, I'll never say sorry. For taking my mum from Laval to London? No. Even if I came a day late, I would never say sorry. You understand or you don't. If not, don't give a day off or tell people they cannot fly."

This marked another instance of tension between Aubameyang and Arteta. The pair had previously clashed in March 2021 when the former Arsenal forward arrived late for a team meeting prior to the north London derby. The striker joined Barcelona in February 2022 after leaving Arsenal by mutual consent.

Matteo Guendouzi

In June 2020, Mikel Arteta refused to confirm whether Guendouzi would remain an Arsenal player following his role in sparking a mass confrontation at the Amex Stadium. The former Gunners midfielder became embroiled with several Brighton players after Neal Maupay scored a late winner.

Guendouzi, who escaped FA punishment despite his behaviour, was omitted from the travelling squad for Arsenal's next fixture and did not feature again that season. When pressed about the Frenchman's future, Arteta said: "Whatever internal issues we have, we will deal with them privately and I am never going to make any of that public.

"All the players that are here, I am counting on them. If they want to jump on the boat they are more than welcome and that's always my mindset. I am here to help all of them to improve individually and collectively. That is my job."

Guendouzi initially went out on loan to Hertha Berlin, though he later returned to the Gunners. He subsequently joined Marseille on a season-long loan deal, which was later made permanent.

In a previous interview with BeIN Sports. Guendouzi discussed his relationship breakdown with Arteta. He said: "Journalists used this excuse to say that we had a bad relationship and that's why I stopped playing and left Arsenal.

"Not at all. It's a gesture like many on the pitch. There's a lot of tension sometimes, a lot of problems on the pitch. In any case, it has nothing to do with all that."

Reflecting on his period under Arteta, Guendouzi continued: "It's true that I didn't have the best relationship with him. Beyond that, I always tried to work, always gave the maximum of myself in training and in matches. I still play a few matches with him, I still did great performances.

"He preferred other players and I respect that decision. That's why, afterwards, I also decided to leave because I was still young, I needed playing time to continue to progress. The most important when you're young is to play."

Mesut Ozil

Ozil made an encouraging start under Arteta, featuring in each of the new Arsenal manager's first 10 Premier League games. However, the pandemic brought football to a standstill for three months.

In contrast to the majority of his teammates, Ozil, who still had roughly a year remaining on his £350,000-a-week deal, reportedly declined to reduce his wages. The creative midfielder failed to appear for the rest of that campaign and subsequently accused the club of disloyalty.

When pressed on Ozil's public statement, Arteta maintained that the German's omission was due to footballing reasons. The Arsenal boss said: "It was just a football decision and my conscience is very calm because I have been really fair with him.

"My level of communication with him has been high, we know what to expect with each other. He has had the opportunities like everybody else. I'm sad that I had to leave three players out of this list but I tried to look everybody in the eye and be comfortable with it.

"With Mesut, I have this feeling because I have been very straight forward since I arrived at this club. It's nothing related to [Ozil's] behaviour. It's my decision."

Arteta proceeded to freeze Ozil out entirely the following season. The midfielder was omitted from both the Premier League and Europa League squads for the 2020/21 campaign, ultimately departing for Fenerbahce in January 2021.

Speaking to the Mirror in May 2022, Ozil's agent Dr Erkut Sogut reflected on the situation: "I just ask for fair treatment like with any other player.

"But to not be in the squad at all, that was a couple of days before the window was closing and it was too late for us to react anyway. Maybe three days, four days before when I was told he might not be in the squad at all, he might not be listed.

"So that was a surprise. First for the Europa League and then for the Premier League as well, that was not expected by us at all. The coach didn't want him in the squad and the player has to accept that, what can you do?"

William Saliba

Remarkably, Saliba and Arteta experienced tensions several years ago. The centre-back has been loaned back to Saint-Etienne following his initial arrival at Arsenal in 2019 under Emery.

"For many reasons, that wasn't the transition year that he needed because he had a lot of injuries, some personal injuries and also with Covid and the French league getting cancelled – he didn't have that year," Arteta said in late 2020.

"He needs that year of transition and we are trying to make the right decisions for him to give him the best transitional year for him to have the player we want in our future."

In January 2021, Saliba joined OGC Nice after being omitted from Arsenal's Europa League squad, a decision that sparked considerable debate among supporters. In an interview with French media, the defender challenged Arteta's judgement and hinted at an uncertain future with the Gunners.

"The coach immediately told me that I was not ready," Saliba said. "I would have at least liked to have had a chance to rediscover my rhythm. But this is football, it's like that."

He subsequently reinforced his position during an appearance on RMC's 'Top of the Foot' programme, stating: "It is clear that so much has changed in the last year. When I saw that the coach changed a lot changed for me too. In this year there has been a lot of change.

"He judged me on two-and-a-half matches. I would have liked for him to play me more. But he told me I wasn't ready. I was waiting for him to give me a chance, but football is like that.

"When I initially came to Arsenal the league looked very good so I showed up to training and wanted to train on my own to show the coach I was ready. I am happy now, I want to play for Nice. The idea when you're part of a team is a better feeling for me."

While Arteta undoubtedly frustrated Saliba, the Spaniard's assessment ultimately proved accurate. The Arsenal centre-back went on to flourish in Ligue 1 before establishing himself as a key part of Arteta's side in 2022.