Mikel Arteta’s ruthless Arsenal overhaul has divided supporters and neutrals alike, with a string of high-profile casualties along the way.
Since replacing Unai Emery in late 2019, the Spaniard has almost completely transformed the playing staff, leaving him with one of the Premier League ’s youngest squads. And in his near three years in charge, Arteta has shown he has no fears about making a controversial decision or two.
One of the most contentious of those came back in January 2021, when he allowed World Cup winner and former Real Madrid star Mesut Ozil to leave on a free. Having been left out of Arsenal's Premier League and Europa League squads, the enigmatic playmaker was little more than a cheerleader. The reported crux of the issue was that Arteta was unhappy with his application in training.
