Arteta ‘no longer speaking’ to star and vows to destroy mole in Arsenal squad

Mikel Arteta

The crisis engulfing Mikel Arteta at Arsenal appears to be growing by the day amid damaging claims the Arsenal boss was no longer on speaking terms with David Luiz and was ready to ‘destroy’ a perceived leak in the dressing room.

Arteta is facing serious questions over his future after a seventh loss in 12 games this season against Burnley on Sunday. Arteta’s troops are down in 15th place; their worst start in 40 years.

Arsenal’s task was made harder by Granit Xhaka’s red card. After the match Arteta let the midfielder know exactly what he thought.

The defeat also means Arsenal have lost four successive home games in the Premier League.

Arsenal were also fortunate not to be down to nine men after Mohamed Elneny was booked for putting his hands in James Tarkowski’s face.

Graeme Souness was quick to stick the boot into Arteta for his tactics and handling of Elneny.

Arteta’s troubles, however, don’t stop there. According to reports, the Gunners boss is fuming after a reported training ground fight between David Luiz and Dani Ceballos was leaked into the media. That was quickly denied by Arteta, who was more angered by the fact the story had seen light of day.

“I don’t like the fact that that incident comes out at all,” said Arteta.

“I will find out where it is coming from and if that is the case, that goes completely against what I expect from each other, the privacy and the confidentiality that we need, and there will be consequences.”

Ceballos has been in and out of the Arsenal side since returning for a second season’s loan from Real Madrid.

Luiz, meanwhile, has been a mainstay of the side until he sustained a head injury against Wolves recently.

However, football.london claims the leak has had a lasting effect on Arteta. They state the Gunners boss remains ‘furious’ about the whole affair and remains determined to find out who leaked the story to the press. They claim Arteta has vowed to ‘destroy’ the culprit.

In addition, the article alleges that Arteta is no longer on speaking terms with Luiz. Football.London claims relations between the two men has soured in recent weeks.

Arsenal have subquently denied a problem exists between the two men. Luiz’s representative has also been quick to deny the claims in a statement.

“David Luiz strongly denies this story about him and Arteta. He insists he has a good relationship with Arteta and wishes nothing but success.”


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Pepe treatment caused resentment

The problems don’t end there for Arteta either.

As per the article, several Arsenal stars are said to be unhappy with Arteta for the way he spoke out against Nicolas Pepe after his red card at Leeds.

The Spaniard was scathing in his television interviews about the Ivorian’s dismissal for a planting his head of Gjanni Alioski.

Now it’s claimed certain members of the Arsenal squad confronted Arteta over his public speaking out against Pepe. That in turn has led to more hostilities between coach and players.

Given all that’s reported, together with Arsenal’s struggles, it looks a long, hard season ahead. Arsenal next face Southampton in a vital Premier League match on Wednesday.

READ MORE: Arteta hints at January decision in three-sentence statement about Ozil