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‘He can’t handle big players’: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang swipes at Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta as he claims the old boss ‘needs young players who don’t say anything’ after heated argument – but tweets to wish the club well afterward having a lot of bad feelings
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang left Arsenal in dire circumstances
- He infamously fell for boss Mikel Arteta, who stripped him of the captaincy
- Aubameyang joined Barcelona before moving to Chelsea earlier this summer
- The striker criticized Arteta’s management style and ability to interact with players
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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has a swipe at Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, claiming he can’t handle ‘big players’.
Aubameyang, who came to Chelsea during the summer transfer window, got into an infamous argument with Arteta while playing for the Gunners.
The forward spent four years in North London, scoring 92 goals in 163 appearances. This included just over two years with Arteta at the helm, but his last few months at the club turned sour when the Spaniard sacked Aubameyang as captain over various disciplinary issues.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has slapped Mikel Arteta, claiming he can’t handle ‘big players’.
The fallout was irreconcilable and the Gunners terminated the attacker’s contract in February, lubricating the wheels for a move to Barcelona.
The entire saga was captured for Amazon’s All or Nothing documentary about the Gunners, with Arteta preparing a dossier on Aubameyang’s bad behavior before depriving him of the bracelet.
Aubameyang looked back on his departure from Arsenal and took a swipe at Arteta’s management style.
‘I remember them’ [Barcelona] called my father first,” Aubameyang said a jeweler.
Aubameyang was stripped of the captaincy by Arteta after several disciplinary issues
“We knew the coach, Xavi, then he called me and said there was an opportunity because you have those problems with Arsenal, but when you come you will help us a lot, so I said ‘okay’.
“But to manage big characters or big players, he (Arteta) can’t handle it.
“He (Arteta) needs some young players, they don’t say anything, they listen.”
Speaking about the situation with Aubameyang on All or Nothing, Arteta said: “That confidence was gone. It was a very difficult decision to make, in the middle of the season, and with the most important player in the club and the impact not having that player could have on the team’s performance.
“But if you put all those ingredients together and the decision is clear, then you have to make it.”
Since then, however, Aubameyang has tried to clarify his comments. The Chelsea attacker tweeted on Monday: “I know there is a video recorded just after I arrived at Barcelona. 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 boys the best, just not on November 6. Now fully focused on tomorrow.’
The 33-year-old’s contract was canceled by the Gunners and he moved to Barcelona
Aubameyang played just six months at Barcelona, scoring 13 goals in 24 appearances for the club.
Due to their much publicized financial troubles, the Catalan giants were eager to move him and while Chelsea were desperate for a striker, the 33-year-old moved to the Blues in the summer.
Aubameyang has started well for Graham Potter’s side, scoring twice in four games so far.
Chelsea face Arsenal on November 6 and Aubameyang’s comments about Arteta will only add fuel to what is likely to be a tough encounter.