Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has said he was shocked by the sharp criticism that followed the exits of Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli during a busy summer transfer window. The Gunners boss came under scrutiny after both players departed north London amid visible frustration and public questions over how their exits were handled.

Arsenal's summer departures have triggered plenty of debate.

Jesus recently spoke of his frustration over his £12.5m move to Barcelona. The Brazil forward said that "nobody told me anything" after he was asked to train away from the first-team squad before completing the transfer.

That disclosure added more fuel to the discussion when Arsenal legend Ian Wright criticised the club's handling of Gabriel Martinelli. The winger had been completely left out of early-season matchday squads before finalising a big-money £60m move to Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal.

Arteta said he was "surprised" by Jesus's comments.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Arteta strongly pushed back against the version of events being suggested around the two major departures. The Spaniard said he was taken aback by Jesus's specific complaint and insisted that proper conversations had taken place.

"Very surprised, to be fair, especially because with Gabi [Jesus] I had an individual talk in the dressing room," Arteta said. "I don't know what words were said, it is fine."

The Arsenal boss insisted their final exchanges had been positive. He added: "The words we used for each other, it was all about gratitude. I don't know, it is OK. Sometimes I understand when you have to deliver bad news or news that people don't expect, those things [you can] react [to]."

On playing the role of the "bad cop".

Arteta then pointed to Leandro Trossard as evidence that relationships can survive after a transfer. The Belgium forward completed a £15m move to Besiktas this summer, but later happily reunited with his former team-mates in the Emirates Stadium dressing room after Arsenal's recent 2-1 win over Chelsea.

Accepting the harder side of management, Arteta explained: "Somebody has to be the bad cop. If I have to be, I have to be and I understand. What is important is normally what happens three months later, six months later, when Trossard comes in, he is the dressing room with us, the atmosphere and the relationship you have."

He is still hopeful that time will ease any lingering tension with Jesus and Martinelli. "Things got so far with other players that they left, at some point the relationship has been really good," he concluded. "I hope that is the same case."

Gunners aim to keep up perfect start.

Arsenal will look to shut out the off-field noise when they travel to take on Sunderland on Saturday night. Arteta's side are aiming to claim another away win and preserve their flawless start to the new season.

The team go into the weekend encouraged by Wednesday's Champions League victory away at Napoli. Offering an important fitness update, Arteta said defender Ben White is "fine" after going down late in Italy, while Cristhian Mosquera is being assessed as he deals with a muscular issue.