Mikel Arteta Suggests Arsenal Stars Were Unhappy with Aubameyang

• Mikel Arteta has appeared to absolve himself from the woes Aubameyang had to contend with in his final weeks at the Emirates
• The Arsenal boss suggested members of the first-team were not happy with the Gabonese star's lack of consistency in training
• Arteta's sentiments came just days after the former Borussia Dortmund star claimed the Spaniard was responsible for his switch to Barcelona

Mikel Arteta has dropped his biggest hint yet over his strained relationship with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Aubameyang's fallout with the Arsenal boss is understood to have influenced his decision to quit the Emirates during the January transfer window.

The former Gunners skipper’s transfer was sealed on deadline day, linking up with Xavi's Barcelona by mutual consent.

The stunning transfer came just weeks after he had been frozen out from the Arsenal squad before being stripped of the club's captaincy.

It is understood that the drastic decisions were taken following a series of disciplinary breaches that saw Auba rub shoulders at the Emirates the wrong way.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang blasts Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta during Barcelona unveiling interview

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Why Aubameyang was forced out

But speaking ahead of Thursday night’s clash against Wolves, Arteta suggested the Gabon international's lack of consistent effort on the training pitch had been noted by members of the first-team squad.

"There are some minimums and a line you cannot cross. If someone is going to cross it because they scored 25 or 30 goals that dressing room has to accept it. First of all you have to score 25 or 30 goals," Arteta noted.

"Maybe they said ‘listen guys don’t train, you train once a week and you play’. They will decide. If they are happy with that and with me there is no problem. If they are happy and can live with that, everyone is happy," he added.

Lacazette named Arsenal captain

Earlier, Sports Brief reported Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has appointed Alexander Lacazette as the club's new captain for the remainder of the 2021/22 campaign.

Mikel Arteta warned against falling out with more superstars at Arsenal after Aubameyang exit

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The Gunners have been without a substantive skipper since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was stripped of the role following "a disciplinary breach."

And with the Gabonese striker already past tense at the Emirates following his January switch to Barcelona, Arteta has resolved to fill the role with Lacazette.