Pierre-Emerick Aubamenyang has sent a message to Arsenal ahead of Chelsea and Arsenal’s Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge this weekend.
In a match that is deemed as a reunion match for the Gabon international, the London derby will once against test Mikel Arteta’s depth to challenge for the Premier League title.
Graham Potter, new Chelsea manager, started on a good note, but surprisingly slip to his former team, Brighton with an outrageous scoreline.
However, the Blues had picked up their broken pieces after coming from behind to beat Dynamo Zagreb to top their Champions League group.
Hence, the resurgent Mikel Arteta squad will face a tough test at Stamford Bridge in the highly anticipated London derby.
Also making the rounds before the game is Pierre-Emerick Aubamenyang’s message to his former team ahead of the game.
The former Barcelona player stated that his face-off with his former club is “nothing personal,” as the two clubs set for a clash in the weekend.
The Gabonese forward is likely to make his first appearance against his former side since leaving Arsenal for Spanish La Liga giants Barcelona following a fall-out with boss Mikel Arteta.
What caused the face-off between Aubamenyang and Arsenal?
Aubamenyan blasted Mikel Arteta for his handling of Arsenal, especially his inability to handle big players in his squad.
“Big characters and big players…he [Arteta] can’t deal with it. He needs some young players who don’t say anything. They listen,” Aubamenyan said after joining Barcelona.
The striker then issued a further statement clarifying his comments, whilst also teeing up an intriguing showdown between both his old and new club.
“Aware there is a video out that was recorded just after I arrived at Barca. 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 guys well, just not on November 6,” Aubameyang clarified.
Aubameyang of course scored 92 goals in 163 appearances for the Gunners having helped the club to the FA Cup trophy.
He has endured a somewhat inconsistent start to life with Chelsea with three goals in his opening 11 appearances for the Blues in all competitions.
His only goal back in the Premier League came in Chelsea’s 2-1 victory against Crystal Palace last month.
Should he help his new side to victory then the Blues could potentially move above Manchester United into fifth place.
Meanwhile, Arsenal have the opportunity to extend their advantage at the top of the league to five points with victory over Chelsea should Manchester City lose to Fulham.
Aubameyang stated that his poor relationship with manager Mikel Arteta led to him leaving the Premier League club in the January transfer window.
The former Borussia Dortmund star signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with Barcelona after he mutually agreed to a contract termination with Arsenal following an uneasy relationship with Mikel Arteta.
🗣 "I don't think we should make it about him."
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) November 4, 2022
Graham Potter on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang facing his former club Arsenal this weekend pic.twitter.com/rzJERZJ5LX
Arteta subsequently excluded him from selection, with Aubameyang forced to train by himself and stripped of the Arsenal captaincy due to a disciplinary breach.
Speaking at his Barcelona unveiling Aubameyang said: “My last few months at Arsenal were complicated, that’s football sometimes.
“For my part, I never wanted to do anything wrong. My problem was only with Arteta. I can’t say much more, I wasn’t happy.
Aubameyang signed a contract with Barcelona until June 2025, with the option to terminate in June 2023, and had a buyout clause of €100 million.
However, a drastic turn of events caused him to be sold to Chelsea last summer after Barcelona recruited former Bundesliga goal machine, Robert Lewandowski.
🗣 "If Auba has got something it's the ability to put the ball in the back of the net."
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) November 4, 2022
Mikel Arteta acknowledges that Aubameyang will be a big threat when they face Chelsea pic.twitter.com/Uv5orDltlD
