Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta
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Mikel Arteta has told Arsenal's attackers to knock on his door if they require clarity over their future. The powerful message was issued as the Premier League champions continue to work on a box-office deal for Atletico Madrid outcast Julian Alvarez.
The ambitious Spaniard wants to continue strengthening and he's willing to be as transparent as possible with members of his squad in the final stretch of the window.
He said when asked about the challenge of keeping everyone happy: "Very simple. Whatever you read, if you have a question, come and knock on my door, and I will tell you whether it is true or not.
"Because if, I don't know, in any position, if they read it, we now put a catalogue [of rumours] on all of these walls about all the players that we wanted in the last three months, I think we need the whole building to put it on.
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"So I think they know that there's so much speculation with a lot of players. If ever they feel the doubt of what we think of them and if we're going to recruit a player, I tell them straight away."
Viktor Gyokeres was an unused substitute against Coventry while Gabriel Jesus is no longer training with the main group and Gabriel Martinelli remains in talks over a transfer to Al-Hilal.
While Arteta refused to comment directly on interest in long-standing target Alvarez, who was absent from Atletico training for a second consecutive day on Thursday due to illness, the Argentine remains his No.1 target. The 26-year-old has been holding out for his dream move to Barcelona but Atletico's board of directors have reaffirmed in another strongly-worded club statement that they will not be doing business with their La Liga counterparts.
Arteta also hinted it's not just about the will of a player but their inner circle. Having previously stated he only wanted to sign players determined to join the Gunners, Arteta was asked if he'd be willing to make exceptions. He added on the process behind high-profile transfer deals: "Convincing, I don't know if it's the word, but obviously explaining what we are, what we are doing, how we expect a player to fit in within our club and our way of playing, his role in the team. "That's certainly the case, I think, everybody. And normally, those players don't come by themselves. "They come with a team, whether it's a family, with people that work with them. So, I think that whole ecosystem of the player has to be understood. And I think everybody around it, as well, has to feel that it's the right thing to do."
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