Mikel Arteta told his ‘attitude towards’ player Arsenal just let go was unacceptable

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Mikel Arteta has been questioned about his role in one transfer exit that happened at Arsenal this summer.

Andrea Berta had an incredibly busy first summer as Arsenal’s sporting director, welcoming as many as eight new players. 

It’s unheard of for the Gunners to spend as much as £257m in the transfer market, but Berta got the job done to bolster Arteta’s options. 

Arsenal have strengthened in each position, which was ultimately needed as Berta also sanctioned a flurry of late exits.

• READ MORE: Manager claims one Arsenal transfer deal ‘hurt’ him this summer

Mikel Arteta’s attitude towards Oleksandr Zinchenko questioned

Deadline day was a busy one for Arsenal, but not in terms of arrivals. 

Piero Hincapie signed his contract to represent the final incoming of the summer, though the majority of the attention came from exits.

Six players left on deadline day, five being on loan, two of whom remain in the Premier League.

Reiss Nelson signed for Brentford late in the window, followed by Oleksandr Zinchenko signing for Nottingham Forest on loan. 

Zinchenko has been public about his lack of game time at Arsenal, so his departure was unsurprising, though Forest left it late to get the deal done. 

The 28-year-old’s departure was spoken about after the deadline day dust had settled.

Ukraine international Artem Fedetskyi had something to say about Zinchenko’s switch, questioning how Arteta treated the defender. 

“You see Arteta’s attitude towards him, he has very few minutes on the pitch, so he needed to change something,” Fedetskyi told Tribuna.com. 

Fedetskyi, who has 53 appearances for Ukraine, went on to share his opinion that the move to the City Ground will be good for the left-back.

“I know that he is a good player who can play a lot, so he needs to look for new options. I am sure that Zinchenko’s move to Nottingham Forest will be useful both for him and for the Ukrainian national team.”

Things haven’t started in the best way for the loanee at Forest, however, as Zinchenko was left out of Nuno Espirito Santo’s Europa League squad. 

Zinchenko’s game time at Arsenal dramatically decreased

Putting his pending lack of involvement in Europe aside, Zinchenko had to leave Arsenal.

Fedetskyi was right to some degree, as Arteta didn’t give the Ukrainian sufficient minutes, but only because his squad had more impactful options.

The 2022/23 season was a real high point for Zinchenko, as he arrived at Arsenal and became a firm starter.

The following year was similar, but only because of Jurrien Timber’s injury, seeing the defender earn more game time than Arteta would’ve perhaps anticipated. 

Last season was the final nail in the coffin for the former Manchester City star, whose Premier League involvement for Arsenal was reduced to just five starts, with competition at left-back growing.

With a contract that expires in the summer, Arsenal have seen the last of Zinchenko, who will be playing for his future at Forest.