Mikel Arteta explains what will keep Arsenal players happy after Ozil and Sokratis exits
The Gunners are set to complete further transfer business this month after shipping out several players
JoriPress
Mikel Arteta believes that Arsenal have a platform to build from after letting unwanted players leave the club in January.
The Gunners didn't register Mesut Ozil or Sokratis Papastathopoulos in the Premier League or Europa League squads this season, with both players coming to agreements to mutually terminate their contracts over the past week.
Sead Kolasinac and William Saliba both left the club on loan earlier this month, whilst goalkeeper Alex Runarsson is expected to be sent out on loan in the coming days.
Arteta admits that it has been difficult managing the situation but with the imminent loan signing of Martin Odegaard from Real Madrid, plus the back-up goalkeeper acquisition of Mat Ryan, the January transfer window is beginning to look positive for the Gunners.
"Sometimes it's difficult because the contracts are really close and you have to respect them when you sign them," he said when asked about the departures of Ozil and Sokratis.
"Sometimes it's difficult to see how things are going to evolve in six months time, so sometimes impossible to see what's going to happen in three years time. We tried to resolve those situations early in the summer to try to avoid what we had but sometimes it's not possible as well.
"This transfer window and the previous one was really complicated one and we have to assume that we have responsibility with those players and respond to those obligations. This is what we did until we found a solution for both parties."
Arsenal confirmed the appointment of Richard Garlick as Head of Football Operations last week and the executive will leave his post as Director of Football at the Premier League in the coming months.
Having lost the likes of Raul Sanllehi and Huss Fahmy in the executive team over the past few months, Arteta believes the addition of Garlick will help bring added stability to a hierarchy which has seen vast changes since former manager Arsene Wenger left the club in 2018.
"Well this [stability] is what we are looking for," he said.
"Obviously a lot of things happened institutionally at the club with some of the big decision makers as well and we're trying to create a really strong team with different qualities that's hopefully going to give us more sustainability and success in our decisions."
