A forgotten Arsenal player has now hinted at boss Mikel Arteta showing him a lack of ‘trust’ to cause him to struggle, having never truly been ‘happy’ at Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners are enjoying a sensational season under Arteta this term with Arsenal vying for Premier League and Champions League honours. Arsenal go into the weekend atop the top-flight table through 31 matches. They have 71 points to edge Liverpool and Manchester City.
Aston Villa visit Emirates Stadium this Sunday with Arsenal looking to improve their position. Liverpool are only behind the Gunners on goal difference at +42 to +51 and Manchester City are a point back. Arsenal have scored the most (75) and conceded the fewest (24) goals yet.
Nuno Tavares hints Mikel Arteta never trusted him at Arsenal
But while Arsenal bid for their first Premier League title in 20 years, Nuno Tavares is fighting to help Nottingham Forest avoid relegation. The Reds are 17th in the standings and are only outside of the drop zone on goal difference with a minus-16 record over Luton Town at -20.
Arsenal sent Tavares out on loan to Nottingham Forest last September for £1m. The 24-year-old’s move to the City Ground also includes a £12m option for the Reds to buy the left-back. But he has only played in seven Premier League games after two long-term injury absences.
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His career at Emirates Stadium is likely over now, too, with Arsenal set to try and sell Tavares this summer. Arteta signed Tavares from SL Benfica back in July 2021 with Arsenal paying an initial fee of £7m, rising to £8.5m. He has since only played 28 games for the Gunners so far.
Nuno Tavares was ‘happy’ at Marseille but likely not at Arsenal
Arteta further only trusted Tavares with starting in 17 games, mostly due to Kieran Tierney’s injury woes. So, Arsenal sent the Portuguese on loan to Marseille in 2022/23 before moving to Nottingham Forest this term. Now, Tavares has hinted that Arteta never trusted him, too.
Tavares has lauded the trust he felt from Igor Tudor at Marseille and Jorge Jesus while still at Benfica. He felt valued and ‘happy’ at those clubs. But his comment suggests that was never the case at Arsenal. Tavares played 39 times and started 30 at Marseille and fired six goals.
“It’s always different when a club and a coach trust you, bet on you,” Tavares told L’Equipe. “Igor Tudor is the coach who placed the most trust in me with Jorge Jesus.”
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He added: “In Marseille, I was happy. I felt a bit like I was in Lisbon. The streets, the people, certain places – in many ways, the two cities are similar and I loved Marseille. The Benfica stadium is prettier but the atmosphere is even stronger, more intense at the Velodrome.”
