Jubilation in Spain as embattled Arsenal star Aubameyang arrives in Barcelona to complete loan move
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Arsenal legend Martin Keown has urged manager Mikel Arteta to stop falling out with superstars at the club, days after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s exit.
Aubameyang was the latest high-profile Gunner to leave the club in abrupt and controversial terms, and his exit came weeks after he was axed by Arteta.
Ironically, Arteta had convinced the Gabon international to sign a bumper new deal that saw him rake in £350,000-a-week back in 2020.
Jubilation in Spain as embattled Arsenal star Aubameyang arrives in Barcelona to complete loan move
FootballHowever, in December 2021, Aubameyang, who was the club’s highest player, was stripped off captaincy and frozen out of the squad.
The 31-year old would go on to join Barcelona on a free transfer in January 2022, with Arsenal ripping up his contract.
While making an appearance on Talksport, Keown expressed concern over a pattern that has been quite prevalent at Arsenal in recent years.
“I don't know of another high profile manager who has fallen out with quite so many players,” Keown said as quoted by Sunsport.
The former Arsenal man also analysed that the sale of Aubameyang came with no replacements.
“There is no replacement that's come in for the striker. Arsenal are in a fight for fourth place and have an opportunity to do that.
“This player, slightly differently to the Ozil situation, the current manager give him the contract. He assessed the player, felt he was good enough to go so no problems.
Embattled Arsenal star Aubameyang willing to play for ‘practically nothing’ to secure move to Spanish club
FootballAubameyang is not the only superstar to see his Emirates career plummet spectacularly.
In 2020, Mesut Ozil was frozen out of the squad, and the German was left out of the Premier league and European squads for the 2020/21 campaign.
Ozil would go on to leave the club for free in January 2021.
Midfielder Matteo Guendouzi was also forced to leave the club for Marseille on loan after falling out of favor with the manager.
“You can't keep falling out with people. You could argue, and I've seen Arsenal fans say, if you step out of line then you're out but maybe not if you're Xhaka. He's stepped out of line a few times and come straight back into the team,” Keown went on.
Sports Brief earlier reported of how Aubameyang was brutally honest about his reasons for departing the Emirates, and it all had to do with the manager.
Spanish club Real Madrid smash transfer record, agree to sign striker on blockbuster £800k-a-week deal
FootballDuring his unveiling at the Catalan club, the 2015 African Player of the Year attacked Arteta but quickly cautioned himself not to spill more than necessary.
"My last few months at Arsenal were complicated, that's football sometimes," he said.
"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.”