David Luiz’s future at Arsenal is in doubt. The Brazilian defender’s contract expires at the end of June and the club have yet to take up their one-year extension.
No final decision on the centre-back has been made according to the Guardian but the Gunners may let Luiz leave due to the financial restrictions caused by the coronavirus crisis.
If the 33-year-old does depart, it’s likely to be a blow for Mikel Arteta as Luiz’s form has dramatically improved since the Spanish coach’s appointment in December.
And the former Chelsea star has spoken on several occasions about his admiration for the new Arsenal boss.
“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 in April.
“Mikel 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.”
Arteta has also discussed Luiz’s influence on the side on several occasions since taking charge at the Emirates.
Luiz the leader
“He’s a player that has won more trophies than anybody else in that dressing room. We have to use that in a very powerful way,” the Gunners boss said in January.
“I wanted him to step up, I wanted him to put all his qualities – his personality and his experience – towards the team and he made a big step forward. I am very, very pleased with him.”
Arteta added: “In the games he has played under me so far he has been terrific. His attitude in training, the way he communicates with his teammates, his desire to still learn, it’s superb. I am delighted with him.”
After Luiz was sent off against former club Chelsea
“It was a very special game but to get sent off the way he did, he was disappointed but at the same time proud of his teammates,’ said Arteta following the 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge.
On the possibility of moving Luiz to the right of a three-man defence
"What I want is to have more options and more possibilities to be more unpredictable with what we will do," Arteta said when asked about Luiz shifting roles in January. “I want different phases of our play, different options to make it difficult for the opponent."
Luiz going into coaching
"A lot of them are showing a lot of interest [in coaching], even if they are 18, 19, 20 years old,” Arteta explained in April. “Obviously, he mentioned to me, David Luiz wants to be a coach in the future.
"He has started doing his coaching badges already and I can see he has the attributes, the knowledge and experience to be a coach one day."
