‘I didn’t take that decision’ - Mikel Arteta’s admission on controversial Arsenal move

Arsenal are now counting down the days to their return to Premier League action after a long break due to the World Cup. The Gunners are back in action in the Premier League, when they face West Ham United, and they will want to hit the ground running after such an impressive start to the season.

Mikel Arteta won’t be able to call upon Gabriel Jesus, who will miss a couple of months following knee surgery. As Arteta considers his alternatives, we have rounded up the latest news and headlines surrounding the Emirates Stadium.

Guardiola message

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has sent a message of encouragement to former striker Jesus following his injury blow.

“I am so sorry for Gabriel,” he told reporters on Wednesday. “I would prefer that he could play immediately with Arsenal. He’s an important player for them, like he was for us. I want him to have an incredible and speedy recovery – I am so sorry for him because I know there isn’t one person at this club who could speak badly about him. But he will be back.”

Jesus is set to miss at least two months after his knee injury worsened during duty with Brazil at the World Cup.

Arteta talks Auba

Arteta has opened up on the club’s decision to release Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang last year.

“First of all I didn’t take that decision, we took that decision as a club,” Arteta told Sky Sports. “Obviously there is my recommendation and what I feel that we need to do to get where we want.

“But I wouldn’t like to single out one player. I think it was with several players. It was part of the strategy of what we’re trying to build. At the end of the day, when you are in that process and you want to go faster there are people holding that boat [back] and putting weight on it. I’m sorry but we want to go even faster and there’s no time, whether it’s a player or a staff member, for someone damaging the club and we made that decision.”