Former Everton manager Rafa Benitez has claimed that he knows a little but about what exactly happened between Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta falling out with Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang. The Chelsea striker enjoyed a great spell at Arsenal, before bidding a bitter farewell in January this year. The striker had his contract terminated by the Gunners, after which he joined FC Barcelona. However, he was once again on the move this summer as Arsenal’s fellow rivals Chelsea signed him for £11 million.
Aubameyang was signed by Arsene Wenger for the Gunners back in the winter transfer market of the 2017/18 season. The 33-year-old was quickly among the goals for his new club, after netting a massive 141 goals in 213 appearances for Borussia Dortmund. Aubameyang went on to score 92 goals for Arsenal in 163 games, also helping them lift the FA Cup in 2019/20. However, he had a bust up with Arteta in December last year as the Spaniard decided to get rid of his captain and star striker the following month.
Rafa Benitez shares ‘inside info’ on the incident involving Mikel Arteta and Aubameyang
Rafa Benitez too was in the Premier League at the time Mikel Arteta and Aubameyang fell out, as the 62-year-old was in charge of Everton. However, the former Liverpool manager wasn’t having a good time at Goodison Park given his Anfield history. The Toffees managed only 7 wins across their 22 games under Benitez and were in the serious threat of getting relegated from the English top flight. Benitez was ousted in January as Frank Lampard took over and helped Everton survive a potential drop to the Championshiop.
The Spaniard is yet to take up another job since then, and was on punditry duties for Arsenal’s away game against Leeds United. The Gunners clinched a narrow 1-0 win after Patrick Bamford missed a penalty for the Lily Whites, as former Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given sat alongside Benitez analyzing the game. Given approached the Aubameyang story with Mikel Arteta as Benitez too shared his information on the what happened at Emirates. The former ‘keeper said:
“Aubameyang was a big decision. He was the captain. He was the leading goalscorer. But, as a young manager, he made a big decision to get him out of the club and now he is kind of rewarded for it.”
To which Benitez replied:
“I will tell you something, because I know something a little bit from inside. I think he was trying to support the player, as much as he could. Then after he couldn’t, so he had to make a decision and that’s it.”
Aubameyang had earlier claimed that it was Mikel Arteta only who had problem with him which led to his contract termination. However, Benitez has provided a contrary insight as he claims Arteta did everything to save the Gabon international. Nonetheless, it was Aubameyang who paid the price and joined Barcelona as a free agent after his ousting from Arsenal. He managed an impressive 13 goals in 24 games, before returning to London this summer.
The striker’s former manager at Dortmund Thomas Tuchel signed him for Chelsea, only to get a sack days after. But the 2018/19 Premier League Golden Boot winner has continued business as usual at Stamford Bridge under Graham Potter, netting thrice in 6 outings so far. Aubameyang looks set to get rid of the No.9 curse at Chelsea, after Romelu Lukaku failed to emulate his goalscoring prowess at the club following his £101 million move last summer from Inter Milan.