- Dani Ceballos and David Luiz scrapped at Arsenal during the international break
- The incident occurred during a practice match leaving Ceballos with a scratch
- The Gunners stars spoke and apologised to each other later that same day
- Now Ceballos claims the scrap shows the team has character and is alive
- Mental Health and Psychosocial considerations during the COVID-19
Dani Ceballos has claimed his training ground bust-up with Arsenal team-mate David Luiz demonstrates there is still ‘character’ in the team.
The pair had to be separated by manager Mikel Arteta after a challenge by Ceballos in a practice match during the latest international break sparked a scrap that left the midfielder with a scratch on his nose.
Now speaking to The Sun, the Spain international did not deny that the scrap took place but claimed it showed the leadership qualities that both he and Brazilian defender Luiz possess.
‘I’m not going to say that there wasn’t a clash or a scuffle,’ Ceballos, 24, said.
‘It was not an exemplary behaviour but it is good to see Arsenal is alive – that the team has character.
‘We are two footballers with very similar leadership qualities and these things can happen.
‘We didn’t let a single day go by. We spoke that same afternoon after training.
Sources claim Luiz, along with other senior players, had repeatedly taken issue with Ceballos over his rough treatment of some of the younger players.
Luiz then hit out at the Spaniard, and when he rose to confront the defender, players and Arsenal staff moved quickly to de-escalate the situation.
Arteta immediately ended the session, and the Gunners stars apologised to each other.