Since assuming control at Arsenal in late 2019, Mikel Arteta has managed numerous player departures, occasionally resisting immediate board requests.
Throughout his tenure at Arsenal, it has become evident that Mikel Arteta’s decisions are generally definitive, contrasting with past practices at the Emirates.
In 2020, the Arsenal leadership conveyed to Mikel Arteta that four players had to be offloaded to finance new signings. Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Matteo Guendouzi, Lucas Torreira, and Sokratis were identified as surplus by the higher-ups, not by Arteta.
Despite this, the Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, remained unconvinced that Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ time at the club had concluded. He opposed the board’s decision to sell the English player, showing less resistance for the other three players, who didn’t all depart that season.
The mirror reports that In Guendouzi’s instance, a rumoured fall-out with Arteta at the beginning of ‘Project Restart’ sparked the end of his stay at the Emirates. The summer in question saw him join Hertha Berlin on loan, before his second loan away from Arsenal at Marseille became a permanent deal in 2022.
Despite disagreement with the board over selling Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Arteta showed less resistance with others.
Torreira initially impressed at Arsenal, seen as a vital midfield addition, reminiscent of Patrick Vieira. However, his form declined due to rumors of home sickness, leading to his move to Atletico Madrid that summer.
Diego Simeone wasn’t swayed to make Torreira’s loan at Atletico Madrid permanent.
The player then went on loan to Fiorentina in the 2021/22 season before joining Galatasaray permanently for around £5 million two years ago.
