Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said he was "very surprised" by Gabriel Jesus's comments. Jesus claimed he was made to train alone and got no information before joining Barcelona.
Jesus ended his four-year stay with Arsenal in September. He has since expressed disappointment over how his exit was managed.
In an interview this week, the Brazilian striker said, "out of nowhere they put me to train apart from the group." He added, "nobody told me nothing" before he signed for Barcelona.
Arteta responded to Jesus's comments. He insisted he had spoken to the former Manchester City player about the transfer and they parted on good terms.
"Very surprised, to be fair. Especially because with Gabi (Jesus) I had an individual talk in the dressing room," he told reporters on Friday.
"I don’t know what words were said; it’s fine. The words that we used were all about gratitude."
Arteta also faced criticism from former Arsenal striker Ian Wright. Wright said he felt "uncomfortable" with the lack of communication between the club and Gabriel Martinelli. Martinelli moved to Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal on September 3.
But Arteta pointed out the presence of Leandro Trossard. Trossard, who was sold to Besiktas in July, came to watch Arsenal’s win over Chelsea last weekend. This showed the club’s connection with former players.
"I don’t know, it’s OK. Sometimes I understand that when you have to deliver bad news, or news that people don’t expect, somebody has to be the bad cop. If I have to be, I have to be, and I understand," he said before the Premier League champions’ match against Sunderland on Saturday.
"What is important is normally what happens three months or six months later. When Trossard comes, he’s in the dressing room with all of us, the atmosphere and the relationship you have.
"Thank God, so far, that with all the players that left, at some point the relationship has been really good. I hope this is the same case."
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