Dani Ceballos has responded to Piers Morgan's public display of frustration with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta by calling for patience when it comes to the Spaniard's reign as Gunners boss.
The Real Madrid midfielder enjoyed two seasons in North London as a loan player and the bulk of that time saw Arteta as Ceballos' manager after Unai Emery's sacking in November of 2019. That period was somewhat of a rollercoaster in terms of the club's fortunes as Arsenal lifted the FA Cup during Ceballos' temporary spell, but also endured some of their worst league form post-World War Two.
The summer of 2020 saw Ceballos play a vital part in Arsenal's run to FA Cup glory in 2020, with the former Real Betis star notching a last-gap quarter final winner to keep the club in the competition. However, by the turn of the year, Ceballos was part of a Gunners side reeling from home defeats by the likes of Wolves, Leicester City, Aston Villa and Burnley.
He would eventually leave at the end of the 2020/21 campaign and return to the Santiago Bernabeu, but clearly still holds Arsenal and Arteta in particular close to his heart. It is for that reason he has leapt to his former manager's defence in the wake of criticism from Morgan on Twitter.
The former Good Morning Britain host has bemoaned Arteta's decision to sanction the exit of talismanic forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Barcelona mid-way through the season while Arsenal are still fighting for top four.
Writing in the wake of the recent 3-0 defeat away at Crystal Palace, Morgan claimed: "This is actually a moment when Arsenal fans need to accept Arteta made a massive season-wrecking mistake in giving away Aubameyang and relying on Lacazette to lead the line. I said it would come back to haunt us – and it is"
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Ceballos was quick to issue his response, writing: "Friend, let him work, he is very good. He will also take Arsenal to where they deserve. Patience." Arsenal have made drastic improvements this term and find their Champions League fate still in their own hands with nine games to go.
However, the recent showing at Selhurst Park has undeniably dented some of the optimism that has been felt towards Arsenal's hopes of finishing fourth. "We weren’t at the races today, especially in the first half," conceded Arteta on Monday night.
"We were late to every ball, we were soft in the duels and we didn’t earn the right to play, and when we did a little bit we were sloppy on the ball. We didn’t have any dominance or sequences of play when we could take control of the game and we conceded two poor goals as well, so overall it’s unacceptable."
