Dani Ceballos heaps praise on Mikel Arteta after Arsenal exit

Arsenal loanee Dani Ceballos has heaped praise on boss Mikel Arteta following his return to parent club Real Madrid.

The 24-year-old spent two seasons on loan at the Emirates, during which time he helped Arteta to his first major trophy as a manager when Arsenal won the FA Cup in 2020.

However, after a promising debut season as a Gunner, in his second campaign with Arsenal, Ceballos slipped down the pecking order behind Thomas Partey and Emile Smith Rowe, resulting in starting only 17 league games during 2020-21.

The Spanish international was full of praise for his former boss and told El Larguero: "Arteta is a coach who I am sure will be one of the best in the world in the next few years, but I would like to return to the Spanish league."

On his future at Real Madrid, Ceballos added: "Zidane was always very clear with me. He told me that he was a player for the future at Real Madrid. I asked him to leave on loan the first year and he told me that a year at Real Madrid was like eight years away. He was right.

"The first thing is to talk to the coach [Ancelotti]. What I want is to be important, I have missed the [Spain squad for the] Euros. I will make it clear to the coach that I want to feel important every Sunday."

During his two-season long loan spell at Arsenal, Ceballos scored two goals and provided five assists in 77 appearances for the club.