Mikel Arteta insists he does not rule Arsenal like a dictator but would walk away from the job rather than ever compromise his principles.
Arteta axed captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for a breach of discipline two weeks ago and has yet to recall him, throwing the striker’s future at the club into doubt with the transfer window about to open.
There are echoes of last January when Arsenal forced the exit of Mesut Ozil, Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis Papastathopoulos, who had all fallen foul of the 39-year-old manager.
‘I don’t establish my authority by being dictatorial or ruthless,’ said Arteta.