Mikel Arteta's stance on David Luiz amid Arsenal exit speculation

David Luiz could be on his way out of Arsenal less than a year on from his acrimonious move from Chelsea.

The experienced centre-half was deemed surplus to requirements by Frank Lampard following a falling out during pre-season and was promptly sold to Arsenal on the final day of the summer transfer window.

Luiz signed a one-year deal which included an option for a second season but Arsenal are yet to trigger an extension, which means the 33-year-old could walk away for nothing at the end of the season.

The Brazil international performed erratically during the first half of the campaign under Unai Emery, but he has been one of Arsenal’s outstanding performers since the appointment of Mikel Arteta in December.

According to ESPN, Arteta is keen to retain the services of his most senior outfield player who has featured on 10 occasions in the Premier League since he took over from Emery.

Reports earlier this week claimed the former Arsenal captain was willing to entertain offers for three other central defenders, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Rob Holding and Shkodran Mustafi, with William Saliba due to join from Saint Etienne and Pablo Mari’s loan deal likely to be made permanent.

Luiz recently spoke of his desire, meanwhile, to end his career back at Benfica, the club which launched his European career, but has been fulsome in his praise of Arteta recently.

‘Mikel is doing amazing, I am enjoying being almost 33 years old and still learning and improving and to see how beautiful football is,’ Luiz told Adidas. ‘Every day he changes something more and how a new idea and philosophy can still improve me as a person, as a player and as a leader.

‘Mikel has tried to make us understand where to play and how to play. He gives us a plan: ‘If the team is like that, if there is a low block parking the bus how you can create, take the responsibility to make a risky pass’.

‘If the pass arrives there then we create an opportunity and score the goal, if the pass doesn’t arrive there we can win the ball back quickly.

‘Mikel, he brings a philosophy where everybody has to think for the best of the club, and make the club shine again. Everybody, not just players, everyone has to breathe this oxygen. It doesn’t matter where or when we lost it, we bring it back.’

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