Arsenal travel to Chelsea on Sunday to play their London rivals for the first time since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang made his return to the Premier League. The former Gabon international made the switch from Barcelona in the summer after the Blaugrana added Robert Lewandowski to the group.
The story of Aubameyang’s gradual decline, controversial exit and eventual Premier League return certainly shows the extent to which a player can move from one end of the spectrum to another in regard to their place in a side. He claimed he wanted to become an Arsenal legend, instead, having now joined a bitter rival, he is anything but.
Despite certainly having plenty of fondness from some remaining Gunners fans, particularly for his contribution to the 2020 FA Cup win, the relationship with Mikel Arteta that has since broken apart has left most supporters leaning on the Spaniard’s side. football.london covers the tale of how Aubameyang, Arteta and Arsenal have found themselves where they are today.
READ MORE: Mohamed Elneny says Arsenal dressing room has no 'big egos’ and reflects on Aubameyang departure
Aubameyang signs new Arsenal deal
On September 15, 2020, Arsenal announced Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had signed a new contract with the club. Reports suggested that the club captain had seen his wages increased into the Mesut Ozil realms of figures, with a weekly return exceeding that of £300,000 per week.
In an interview with Sky Sports following the signing of his new contract, he paid tribute to his then-manager Mikel Arteta. He claimed that he was one of the two reasons why he decided to say, speaking of an alignment between the pair.
"Two things persuaded me to stay," he said. "The first thing was Mikel Arteta because since he came in, he brings a lot of positivity and a new philosophy for us.
"I think that was important because it matched my game and I feel that I can improve with him. I think this was the key factor and as well, the love that I receive from the fans and the whole club."
Aubameyang would score in just seven Premier League games as Arsenal struggled and eventually finished eighth. It would be the start of the decline in form of the striker, something which befell the likes of Ozil after he too signed a significant new deal with the club.
Late for Tottenham
The 2020/21 season saw the first major public breach of protocol for Aubameyang. On March 14, 2021, Arsenal were due to play Tottenham Hotspur, however, there was a surprise when it was revealed Aubameyang would be on the bench.
Mikel Arteta revealed before the game the reason for this was a disciplinary issue. It would later transpire that the striker arrived at the Emirates late for the derby.
“He was going to start the game, but we had a disciplinary issue,” Arteta told Sky Sports. “We have drawn the line and we move on. We keep it internal.”
Arsenal went on to win the game without the forward 2-1. Arteta was asked further on the topic but said that he and the club would be moving on.
“We dealt with the situation on the day and now we move on,” Arteta said after the game. “He's going to continue to be really important. That's it, no more comments on that.”
Aubameyang started the following games in a 3-3 draw with West Ham United and the 3-0 home defeat to Liverpool before falling ill with Malaria, caught on international duty, and missing the next three games.
Aubameyang returns late from agreed absence
The following season, 2021/22, would be a year that the Gunners surprised most and went on the hunt for a top-four place. It was also a campaign that would be followed by the Amazon cameras for the All or Nothing series.
However, it would be the season when Aubameyang’s time at the club would come to an end. Having missed the start of the season after contracting Covid-19, Aubameyang found form from matchday three where he would score against Norwich in a run of six Premier League games, scoring four goals.
However, few would have predicted the fourth would be his last for the club. After an agreed period of leave to visit his mother in France, Aubameyang returned to the club past the deadline set by the club.
The Athletic reported that Aubameyang was then asked not to report to London Colney. He then was not present for the squad for the 3-0 win over Southampton which Arteta described as being because of yet another ‘disciplinary breach’ which was in reference to his late return from France.
With a win in the bag without the captain, few thought he would come into the next game against West Ham. That said, perhaps even fewer would predict what would be announced the day before.
The stripping of the captaincy
Just a day after the report revealing the late return from France on December 13, the decision to strip Aubameyang of the club captaincy was announced. It was a decision which was later revealed on the All or Nothing that had been told to the players separately before a publication from the club.
A statement from the club read: “Following his latest disciplinary breach last week, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will no longer be our club captain, and will not be considered for selection for Wednesday’s match against West Ham United.
“We expect all our players, particularly our captain, to work to the rules and standards we have all set and agreed. We are fully focused on tomorrow’s match.”
During that day’s press conference, the topic was of course the highlight of the discussion. However, as usual, Arteta refused to be drawn too much beyond what had been divulged in the statement.
"I don't have much more to say," said the Spaniard. "It's a really clear statement from the club.
"It's a decision we have made following the last incident with the player. This is where we stand."
Aubameyang’s close friend Alexandre Lacazette was given the captaincy and would carry it until the end of the season when he would leave after the expiry of his contract. However, he would lose his strike partner six months prior to this.
Leaves Arsenal for Barcelona
With Arteta’s decision to strip Aubameyang of the captaincy he also wanted the Gunners to find a way for him to leave. After struggling to find any suitors throughout the January window, eventually, an agreement to terminate his contract so he could sign for Barcelona was agreed.
Flying out on transfer deadline day without permission from Arsenal, as revealed in the All or Nothing series, the striker’s stay at the club where he wanted to become a ‘legend’ ended. At his unveiling as a Barcelona player, Aubameyang responded to the rumours of a rift with Arteta.
“My last few months at Arsenal were complicated, that’s football sometimes,” he said upon his unveiling. “For my part, I never wanted to do anything wrong.
“My problem was only with Arteta. I can’t say much more, I wasn’t happy. It was just him and he made that decision. He wasn’t happy, I can’t tell you more. He wasn’t very happy; I was very calm.”
When Arteta was asked for his thoughts on Aubameyang’s comments he refused to be drawn into a direct response. However, the Spaniard was keen to make sure the focus remained firmly on the club’s future.
"It's his opinion. That's his opinion, that is what he said, and you have to respect that.
"I am grateful for what Auba has done at the club and his contribution since I have been here. The way I see myself in that relationship is the solution, not the problem.
"What I am saying is that I've been this solution, 100 per cent, I can look in the eye of anybody. I do a lot of things wrong, for sure, but the intention all the time is the best - and not for me, it is for the club and for the team.
"I think it ended up in the best possible way for everybody. I think when things change, and the context changes and this is part of football.
"And what we did yesterday or a month ago is not relevant, it's about what we do today and what we are going to do in the future. You have to make decisions.
“We all made the decision that the best thing was to move on and now he plays for Barca. We had different meetings and the decision was taken collectively between the player, the club and agent."
Aubameyang went on to play 23 times for Barcelona as the season concluded, scoring 13 goals and helping Barca qualify for the Champions League. Meanwhile, he watched his now former side Arsenal fall at the final hurdle, with many pointing to a lack of a striker signing in January to replace Aubameyang as one of the key factors in missing out on the top four.
All or Nothing details Aubameyang controversy
During the summer, the Amazon documentary All or Nothing: Arsenal was released. Within, fans were promised an inside look at how the club reacted to the Aubameyang controversy.
Whilst it was clear many details remained private and not for public viewing, there was one particular exchange with Mikel Arteta which caught the attention of most. After conducting a press conference where he was asked about Aubameyang’s exile, he was videoed speaking to the director of media communications Mark Gonnella about the saga.
Arteta said: "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…"
Technical director Edu was also interviewed on the topic and spoke of his own internal battle with the decision. The Brazilian explained why he found it hard to align with the decision taken by Arteta.
"No," Edu replied when asked if it was easy to support Arteta in making the decision. "Of course, it's not because of how many goals Aubameyang score for a season for the club? How much do the fans like Aubameyang? How much the players like him to be around?
"It doesn't matter if he's the captain, if it's someone from the academy, if the boy just started with the first team, everybody has to be treated the same. And if you're not doing what we believe is important for the club, we have to act, and this decision is strong and difficult to make, but we have to make [it]."
Whilst the episodes were being released week by week, rumours of a potential return to the Premier League were ongoing. Rumours that would soon become a reality.
Returns to Premier League with Chelsea
Despite spending just half a season with the Blaugrana, the arrival of Robert Lewandowski meant that Aubameyang’s game time suddenly diminished. Combined with the extension of Ousmane Dembele’s contract, Memphis Depay’s stay and the return to fitness of Ansu Fati, there was little space in the starting line-up for Aubameyang.
Therefore, with Chelsea in need of a striker, he made the decision to come back to London and wear the blue of his former club’s bitter rivals. He signed on deadline day for a fee in the region of £12 million, football.london understands with Marcos Alonso moving in the other direction.
Captured by Sky Sports he simply replied, “I’m back.” Although it wouldn’t be something which appeared to faze his former manager all that much.
Mikel Arteta was asked about his thoughts on his former captain’s return. He said: “I’m sure he’s made that decision because he wants to change again and find the best possible for his future, and we here wish him the best of luck.”
Aubameyang’s criticism of Arteta leaks
Aubameyang scored on his Premier League return with Chelsea against Crystal Palace and chipped in with a couple of goals in the Champions League group stage too. However, his English football restart was overshadowed somewhat by a video released on a channel called A Jewellers.
The former Arsenal striker was caught on camera criticising Mikel Arteta’s management of what he described as ‘big characters’. In a conversation with others in the video, he referenced the young squad Arsenal had to be a result of this criticism.
“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.”
Chelsea vs Arsenal November 2022
Fast forward to today and we are less than 24 hours before Aubameyang could potentially face his former side once again. Arsenal travel across London for a midday kick-off tomorrow with all the focus on the striker.
The BT Sport promo for the game has already added fuel to fire. A clip of Aubameyang has now been broadcast saying: "Arsenal, nothing personal. I’m back. I’m blue. I’m ready."
He might be ready, but his Chelsea side are a depleted one. Ben Chilwell suffered a problem in midweek’s dead rubber against Dinamo Zagreb and Reece James remains out for the long term.
Aubameyang may not start the game with Graham Potter having plenty of attacking options. Arsenal arrive for the first time as favourites for many years despite being unbeaten on their last three visits, winning the previous two.
If Aubameyang plays and scores, all eyes will be on how he reacts. But in the context of the game, the result will be huge for either side, either way with Arsenal potentially moving thirteen points clear with a victory.
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