While Arsenal are currently celebrating their crucial victory over Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday, a recent video involving Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has rehashed the controversial fallout between the Gabonese striker and Mikel Arteta.
The former Gunners captain was stripped of the armband and exiled from the Emirates Stadium after returning late from a trip to see his mother, with the striker later getting a move to Barcelona. While this decision was initially criticized, as the North London giants went on to miss out on a top-four finish and UEFA Champions League football, Mikel's side are currently playing beautiful football as a result.
Aubameyang, on the other hand, enjoyed a fine start to life at the Camp Nou but after the arrival of Robert Lewandowski, the African star made his return to the Premier League, joining Chelsea for his second spell in England.
And ahead of the upcoming showdown between the Blues and Arsenal, a leaked video has emerged in which Aubameyang reveals his true feelings about his former manager. While the striker has, for the most part, kept a tight lid, the 33-year true thoughts have now been made public through a recorded conversation.
In this clip, the striker can be seen with a few other people in what looks to be a hotel while filming a video for the A Jewellers Youtube video. Here he raises his frustration with the Spanish tactician, arguing that he is a manager that cannot handle characters and simply wants young, obedient players.
"I remember they [Barcelona] first called my father," Aubameyang said.
"We knew the coach, Xavi, then he called me and said there is an opportunity because you have those problems with Arsenal, but if you come you will help us a lot, so I said, 'okay'.
"But to manage big characters or big players, he (Arteta) can't deal with it.
"He (Arteta) needs some young players, they don't say anything, they listen."
Aubameyang on Arteta: "Big characters and big players...he can't deal with it. He needs some young players who don't say anything."
— Arsenal Harmony (@ArsenalHarmoni) October 9, 2022
This is really low from @Auba. As soon as he wants out he'll create problems in the locker room and blame it on someome else. pic.twitter.com/eIflZHewis
This did not go down well with the Emirates Stadium fan base who are enjoying the togetherness and team spirit of Mikel's current crop of players.
However, the Chelsea man has now released a response via Twitter in which he addresses the situation. According to him, this video was recorded just after he arrived in Barcelona to seal his move to the Catalan giants, admitting that he was still harboring "bad feelings" at that time.
"[I am] 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. Now full focus on tomorrow," the Gabonese striker wrote on Twitter.
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 Now full focus on tomorrow
— AUBA (@Auba) October 10, 2022
Of course, November 6 is in reference to the date of Chelsea vs Arsenal. However, as the player mentioned, he is currently focused on Tuesday's UEFA Champions League action as Potter's men prepare to take on AC Milan at the San Siro.
