According to The Athletic, Mikel Arteta’s decision to start Arsenal winger against Leeds United caused some anger at the club.
The Gunners travelled to Elland Road last month coming out of an international break, and picked up a 0-0 draw despite Nicolas Pepe being sent off.
Arteta made a bold decision before that game. Willian had travelled to Dubai during the international break, breaking pandemic protocol in the process.
Arsenal allegedly dealt with the incident internally, but Willian started against Leeds just days later as the matter was seemingly forgotten.
However, it’s now stated that the decision caused some anger inside the club, with a belief that certain players are being treated harshly for much less.
Arteta has his ‘non-negotiables’ in terms of behaviour, but the way Willian was dealt with has seemingly brought up the conversation or ‘double standards’.
The Brazilian was handed a three-year deal over the summer, and making an example of him just weeks into his Arsenal career would have been somewhat risky.
Still, Willian is an experienced player who should have known better, and Arteta will at least hope he doesn’t have any more issues with him moving forward.
This is likely just a case of Arteta learning his way through management, but having taken hard stances on Mesut Ozil and Matteo Guendouzi, putting Willian straight back into his team last month seemingly irked some at the Emirates Stadium.
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