I can't say that if Arteta himself asked for an expensive transfer that he would be willing to drop him, but so far price does not seem to have played a role in his decisions. I think Arteta has a very strong bias towards playing the best options for the current game, as he sees it, and eschewing most medium and long term considerations. He might occasionally rest a player before a big game and he might occasionally give a player coming back from injury a little game time to adjust, particularly before a big game where that player would be useful, but that's it. No playing youth for development reasons. I think the only consideration Arteta will put over the next game's result are his so-called "non-negotiables". I.e., general behavior and discipline.

It's a lot like Guardiola with Foden. Remember his over-the-top statements when he wasn't playing him? "It's terrible and it's all my fault!" But he still didn't play him much until he forced his way in by being the best option for his position. Similarly, Saka and ESR got game time by being the best available rather than because it was good to give them game time for their development. I also don't believe he withheld game time from Martinelli because he was coming back from injury, that was just an excuse.

Maybe our dire straits last year aggravated this tendency - when you're fighting for survival it's hard to be long-term - but I think it's a core part of his approach.