Perhaps I was naïve to think that this controversy between Mikel Arteta and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was over. Less than a year after his departure from Arsenal and onto his second club since then already, a video has emerged of the Gabonese star criticising his former manager.
Mikel Arteta exiled Aubameyang from the Arsenal team after a series of disciplinary issues. He then stripped him of the club captaincy and pushed to move him away and out of the club.
Aubameyang has now been featured in a video on a channel called A Jewellers. In the video of the striker looking at different pieces of jewellery, the scene suddenly cuts to Aubameyang criticising Arteta after a brief chat about how his move to Barcelona happened.
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“But to manage big characters or big players, he can’t deal with it,” Aubameyang is filmed saying. “He needs some young players, they don’t say anything, they listen.”
One of the people in the video with Aubameyang says, “But he’s the one who had the problem with [Mesut] Ozil right?” To which the former Arsenal striker nods and says, “Yeah.”
In the Amazon All or Nothing: Arsenal series, the controversy is played out in greater depth than fans previous understood. Whilst it is obvious that not all of what went on is shown, Mikel Arteta is seen chatting with the director of media communications Mark Gonnella after a press conference when he divulges further info about the situation.
Arteta says, "That's why I have everything documented with the dates, the times, the conversation, how it happened, why it happened… Because if one day it's needed [Arteta then symbolises showing a document]."
"He's been late apart from all the issues many times. The club has got a tradition. When you get paid that much money…"
That’s where the conversation is cut off in the scene. Strong words and clearly the Spaniard was steadfast with his position on Aubameyang.
Since then, when asked about his former striker, Arteta has only been complimentary regarding him, even after he has since returned to the Premier League with Chelsea. Speaking amid rumours of Aubameyang’s move to Chelsea, Arteta would only reference how grateful the club should be to him.
“Listen, it’s a long time since that happened. I cannot go back each time there is a series. I have made my comments on that. I was really clear and honest with my opinion.
“What has been done has always been done to defend the club and put it in the best possible position, and be always as clear as, honest and consistent as we can. Auba is an exceptional player.
“He did so much for us. He was our captain, and I think we have to be grateful, very grateful as well, for what he did for this club.”
When asked if he would get a good reception returning to the Emirates as a Chelsea player, Arteta again praised the forward. Although he admitted that there was a lack of alignment in the player and club’s trajectory.
“I hope he does because I think he deserves that,” he said. “There are moments in life, there are moments in your career, and sometimes the trajectory or the objective of each individual is different to the clubs - and you have to respect that.”
Unsurprising. Whether Arteta responds to potential future questioning any differently now these criticisms have since emerged remains to be seen.
Frankly, it is clear that Aubameyang is still hurt by his exit from the club. However, and quite bluntly, Arsenal are almost certainly better for it.
They now have a better No. 9 in Gabriel Jesus, who’s not only younger but on considerably less wages. He has also since scored more Premier League goals in the opening eight games of the season than Aubameyang mustered in his first 14 for the Gunners last season.
To Aubameyang’s point about big characters, the club has had a history of players who have liked to be vocal. Perhaps none more so than Granit Xhaka, who in 2019 went through a damaging controversy after being booed off the field after a poor display against Crystal Palace.
Yet, he credits Arteta with turning his career around. In fact, the Swiss international has been arguably the biggest success story of the season so far, scoring twice and assisting three times in a more advanced midfield role the Spaniard has crafted for him.
To me “big characters” just seems like a phrase used to excuse the behaviour of disruptive members of the group. Aubameyang’s history of late arrivals and disciplinary breaches precedes his time at Arsenal.
For the club to move in a positive direction, Mikel Arteta has worked to craft the squad into a group that is truly united. It meant making tough calls and moving on players like Aubameyang and Ozil but with the side going into the game against Liverpool today (Sunday) top of the table, it can hardly be seen as anything other than a project that is progressing the club in the right direction.
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