Mikel Arteta has opened up on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's exit from Arsenal hinting at what caused their relationship to deteriorate.
The former Gunners skipper joined Barcelona on deadline day, in what was a bitter end to a brilliant four-year spell at the Emirates.
The writing was on the wall for Aubameyang after he was stripped of the armband and banished from the first-team squad after arriving back late from a sanctioned trip to France.
Aubameyang claimed it was a problem with Arteta that drove him to leave the club but the Spaniard sees himself as the "solution".
The Arsenal suggested the 32-year-old's poor application on the training field was not up to the required standard and it was noticed by his teammates.
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Asked if he could have given Aubameyang more leeway given his senior status, Arteta replied: "I don’t think I am too hard on that to be fair. I don’t know the perception externally. There are some minimums and a line you cannot cross.
"If someone is going to cross it because they scored 25 or 30 goals that dressing room has to accept it. First of all you have to score 25 or 30 goals.
"Maybe they said ‘listen guys don’t train, you train once a week and you play’. They will decide. If they are happy with that and with me there is no problem.
"If they are happy and can live with that, everyone is happy. You have to do it though, hey?"
Asked if the squad weren’t willing to accept a lack of effort from a star player, Arteta added: ‘I don’t work with impressions I work with facts. I like to see, I want to smell and sense where this is going and if possible anticipate issues.’
Arteta insists Aubameyang should still be remembered fondly for everything he achieved at the club.
He added: "From my side, and I think from everyone here, I think you’ve seen a few messages towards him, I think it is gratitude.
"We wish him the best and we move on without any regrets because I prefer to look at all the beautiful things and good times that we had.
"It’s important to learn and look back at what you could have done better, especially from my side.
"I think (the squad has been) very understanding, they knew what was happening and it’s a good solution for everyone."
