Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mikel Arteta with the FA Cup (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh, Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Former Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has criticized Gunners manager Mikel Arteta for the way he treated him just before his exit from the club.
Aubameyang was a star player for Arsenal for several years and even captained the club for a brief period, although things quickly turned sour when he ended up leaving the Emirates Stadium midway through the 2021 season /22.
Now discussing his departure, Aubameyang gave his side of the story as he felt Arteta was unfair to him at a time when his mother was ill.
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The Gabonese international now plays in the Saudi Pro League, having played for Barcelona, Chelsea and Marseille since leaving Arsenal.
He’s a player many Gooners will remember fondly, despite his difficult end in north London, and perhaps they will feel some sympathy for him after hearing his views on how Arteta handled the situation.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang explains how Mikel Arteta ‘killed’ him
Talk to AthleticsAubameyang said: “My mistake. I should have come back the day before, but I arrived in the morning. I didn’t tell them that I would miss the flight because I was preoccupied with my mother’s business (medical tests).
“I went straight to a team meeting. Everything was normal. After that he (Arteta) said: “Come with me”. That’s when he started screaming. He said I couldn’t do that because I was the captain and it wasn’t acceptable.
“He said I stabbed him in the back; I don’t know why he said that. I was really upset because it wasn’t true and he knew why I got on the plane. He knew the reason and what was happening, he knew I was struggling that year. I expected his help, not to kill me like that.
“When I’m late, (and) it’s my fault – no problem. I always said sorry. But in this case, I will never say sorry. For taking my mother from Laval (her hometown in France) to London? No, even if I arrived one day late, I would never ask for forgiveness. You understand or you don’t understand. Otherwise, don’t give the day off and don’t tell people they can’t fly.
