Olympique Marseille forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has opened up on his toxic fallout with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta in 2022.
Aubameyang left Arsenal for Barcelona in February 2022 following a clash with Mikel Arteta. He was the Gunners’ skipper but was stripped of the captain’s armband and frozen out of the squad before he left for Barcelona.
At the heart of the fallout between Pierre-Emile Aubameyang and Mikel was a report of the Gabonese’s prearranged trip to see his mother.
His relationship with Arteta went sour after he reportedly overstayed and failed to return in time.
It was at the peak of the COVID-19 Pandemic. And the former Chelsea forward was said to have been held back from returning in time due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Following his return, there was no way back for Aubameyang in Arsenal. After tense and a sour relationship with Arteta, he had to leave, reaching a mutual agreement to end his stay at the London outfit.
While there have been various angles to the narrative, Aubameyang has finally spoken on what actually transpired.
In a lengthy interview with Colinterview he said;
“It was during the COVID “period and we were playing, I think, Everton. We were struggling in the league and the day before the coach told us: “Look, it doesn’t matter if we win or not, you have a day off
“But if you want to leave, you notify yourself before the match because you have to follow the health safety rules.
”My mother a few months before had a stroke, it was going to be Christmas time so I went to see the coach and I said to him: “Coach, I’m coming to see you because I’d like to leave, I’m going to go pick up my mother to bring her back for the holidays.”
”He tells me no problem.’
”I arrive, the coach finishes his meeting, and then he grabs me and completely tears into me,’ Aubameyang continued. ‘He shouts at me like I’m crazy.
”He says: “You put a knife in my back. You can’t do that to me, given the times we’re going through.”
”At that moment, I tell myself that I’m not going to answer him because it’s going to end angrily.
”I didn’t go partying. He knows very well the reason for my departure so at that moment I don’t understand why he is lecturing me like this. I go home and the doctor calls me and says “Tomorrow, the coach doesn’t want you to be there.”‘
”The days pass and the doctor tells me: “Look, he doesn’t want you to be with the group anymore, but you will be able to come and train but separately.”
”I say to myself OK… And then afterwards, he calls me and we have a meeting so he can explain to me that one, he’s taking away the captain’s armband, and two, I’m not training any more with the group.’
”again, (Arteta) explains why he is against me during this period when it was complicated for the club,’ the 34-year-old added.
”That I have to be an example and that I couldn’t do that. At that moment, I said, “I admit that I have my share of responsibility, but the real cause I think you can understand if you are a little bit human. You can understand my move.”
”After that, it was over, I stayed for a month training on my own while waiting for the break.
Aubameyang ended his contract with Arsenal after the fallout and left for Barcelona. He suffered a setback in the Barcelona starting eleven and returned to London with Chelsea midway through the campaign
It was still a dark end for the 34-year-old who was later axed out of the club in the wake of Todd Boehly’s overhaul. After a disappointing spell with three of the best European outfits, Aubameyang has now settled with Marseille where he has scored 17 Ligue 1 goals with 8 assists, including 10 Europa League goals with 3 assists in his first season.
