He was told that he was unlikely to start very often. In effect, he was told that he wasn't wanted.
Poor Jack Football is how he earns his living. It's like your company saying, 'here's a new contract but we won't want you to come to work very often.' How would you like it?
No, different matter entirely. Playing actual football matches is only a tiny fraction of this wondrous activity footballers have taken to calling their "work". They've found plenty of other things to keep them busy.
"Plenty of strikers can score goals," he said, gesturing to the famous old stands casting shadows around us.
"But a lot have found it difficult wearing the number 9 shirt for The Arsenal."