Arteta insists Willian’s trip to Dubai during international break has been ‘dealt with internally’

Mikel Arteta has insisted Willian’s trip to Dubai during part of the international break has been dealt with by the club.

Brazil forward Willian’s trip to Dubai – where he met Salt Bae – came to light after a photograph of the 32-year-old appeared on Instagram, with the winger having not been called up by his national side for November’s international matches.

Again, Arteta would not be drawn into discussing the issue at length but – with current government Covid guidelines restricting all international travel ‘except in limited circumstances’ – the Gunners boss confirmed he had spoken to Willian.

Mikel Arteta has insisted Willian’s trip to Dubai – which saw him meet Salt Bae – during part of the international break has been dealt with by the club

Arteta however refused to confirm if the Brazil forward would be involved against Leeds

‘I don’t confirm anything, that only it is an issue that has been resolved, explained and let’s move on,’ he said.

‘Whatever happens internally with any issues, or things that we don’t expect, always we will try them internally. That has been dealt with and explained, and we move on.’

Arteta would not reveal if Willian would be in the squad for Sunday’s Premier League trip to Leeds – but he did stress that there were other factors to be considered.

‘We had a conversation and I explained what I was expecting,’ added Arteta.

The 32-year-old winger had not been called up by Brazil for their fixtures earlier this month

‘There are a lot of personal factors at the moment and as well from our side we need to be in their shoes.

‘A lot of players are having different issues, like any public person out there, and sometimes they make decisions based on the needs or the moment or what people are expecting from them.

‘Whether they are right or wrong, after obviously it is a thing we have to discuss. But, again, it has been dealt in the right way and let’s move on.’

Arteta did sress that there were other factors to be considered in the issue with Willian

Reports earlier in the week suggested Willian would have to take a Covid-19 test and it would have to come back negative before he could train again at the Gunners.

Although he did not have to self-isolate after arriving back in the UK, the report in The Telegraph claimed that he would have to take a test for the illness to prove that he has not contracted it. 

Willian appeared in the clip on Instagram at the Nusr-Et Steakhouse in Dubai alongside restaurateur Nusret Gokce, also known as Salt Bae, on Monday night.