Pierre Emerick Aubameyang left Arsenal in January earlier this year, but continues to be linked with the club. The striker didn’t leave with a good taste as he had his contract terminated by the club after which he joined Catalan giants Barcelona as a free agent. Fast Forward six months, Aubameyang is back in London with Arsenal’s fierce rivals Chelsea. However, a recent video of the 33-year-old criticising his former gaffer Mikel Arteta has taken the internet by storm.
The Gabon international now seems to be embroiled in another controversy with Arteta, who was the driving force behind Aubameyang’s Arsenal exit. The Spaniard was reportedly fed up of his captain’s irresponsible behaviour and even stripped him of his armband, further putting him in an exile by not playing him. While there were talks of reintegrating the striker back into the team, Arteta rather asked the club to get rid of him.
Aubameyang admits he had ‘a lot of bad feelings’ in him for the Gunners in clarification
Aubameyang’s fall from grace at Arsenal was a massive one since he just had led the club to a FA Cup and penned a new, bumper contract extension. However, it was the start of his fall as incidents which followed led to his ousting. The player, as Arteta had himself revealed would frequently breach the disciplinary rules set by him. Arriving late to training was just one of the offenses Aubameyang would commit frequently.
In Arsenal’s ‘All Or Nothing’ series on Amazon Prime, Arteta can be heard saying:
That is why I have everything [Aubameyang’s disciplinary breaches] documented. With the dates, the times, the conversion, how it happened, why it happened… because if one day it is needed. He has been late [to training sessions], apart from all the issues, many times. The club has got a tradition. When you get paid that much money…”
It was the last straw on the camel’s back as Arsenal terminated his contract in winter market, giving him the free agent status. Barcelona quickly snapped up the Gabonese as he then went on to score 13 goals in 24 appearances for the club, before leaving this summer. However, the video which is out now clearly shows Aubameyang taking out his frustrations at Arteta by accusing the Arsenal manager of wanting just ‘young players’ at his disposal. Auba says in the video:
“He [Mikel Arteta] can’t manage big characters and big players, he can’t deal with it. He needs some young players that don’t say anything, they just listen.”
As soon as the video went out and caused a havoc on social media, Aubameyang came out with an explanation. The Chelsea striker wrote in his clarification:
“Aware there is a video out that was recorded just after I arrived at Barca. At the time I still had a lot of bad feelings in me – Arsenal are doing great things this season and I wish all my old guys well, just not on November 6 [when Arsenal play Chelsea].”
Aubameyang will now face the Gunners with his Chelsea side on November 6 at the Stamford Bridge. He has so far netted 2 goals in 4 games for the Blues, as it will be intriguing to see whether or not he celebrates against his former side if all he manages to get on the scoresheet.