Former Chelsea and Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez revealed Mikel Arteta tried to support Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang before he left Arsenal in January. It comes after a saga that saw the ex-Gunners striker terminate his contract before joining Barcelona - and subsequently rivals Chelsea - after.
It came down to a disciplinary breach as the Gabon international returned late from an authorised trip, with Arteta then making the decision to strip him of the club captaincy. Footage in the Amazon documentary Arsenal: All or Nothing showed the manager was prepared and even kept track of any issues with Aubameyang.
"I have everything documented," he said on the series. "With the dates, the times, the conversations, how it happened, why it happened . . . because of if one day it’s needed. [Aubameyang] has been late, apart from all the [other] issues, many times. The club has got a tradition. When you get paid that much..."
