Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s time at Arsenal ended acrimoniously after being punished by the club for multiple disciplinary breaches, with Mikel Arteta later stripping him of the captaincy
Former Arsenal star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has joked he is the one player who could lead the Gunners to the Premier League title – as he claimed Mikel Arteta’s men are “missing something” in their bid for silverware.
Aubameyang was popular figure at the Emirates after scoring 92 goals in 163 appearances, later becoming club captain as one of the most influential players in the dressing room.
But the Gabon international’s time at the club ended acrimoniously after being punished by the club for multiple disciplinary breaches, with Arteta later stripping him of the captaincy.
After four and a half seasons with Arsenal, he eventually sealed a move to Barcelona, where he stayed for one season before returning to the Premier League for a disastrous short-term spell with Chelsea.
Aubameyang has now joined the chorus of players who have headed to the Saudi Pro League after joining Al Qadsiah last summer and has given an interview about the Gunners and their chances of winning the title.
Speaking to the Athletic, he said Arsenal were “missing something” this season, especially a “goalscoring machine” – and when asked who they were missing, he jokingly replied: “Me.”
Arsenal have struggled to keep pace with Liverpool in the title race, trailing the Reds by six points and playing a game more. They have struggled with injuries that have disrupted their progress and were dealt another set-back after drawing 1-1 against Brighton last time out.
Now 35, Aubameyang has reflected back on his falling out with Arteta – following a third disciplinary breach that saw him arrived back at the club late in December 2021 after looking after his unwell mother.
“My mistake,” he said. “I should have come back the night before, but I arrived in the morning. I didn’t tell them that I would miss the flight because I was preoccupied with my mum’s stuff (medical examinations).”
Aubameyang then revealed how Arteta shouted at him and accused him of putting a “knife in his back”, something that angered him. He added: “I went directly to a team meeting. Everything was normal. After that, he (Arteta) said, ‘Come with me’. This is where he started shouting. He said I could not do this because I was the captain and it was not acceptable.
“He said I gave him a knife in his back; I don’t know why he said that. I was really p****d off because it was not true and he knew why I flew. He knew the reason and what was happening, he knew I was struggling that year. I was expecting help from him, not killing me like this.”
When asked if he should have apologised, he replied: “When I’m late, (and) it’s my fault — no problem. I always said sorry. But in this case, I’ll never say sorry. For taking my mum from Laval (his hometown in France) to London? No. Even if I came a day late, I would never say sorry.”
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