Arsenal legend offers honest verdict on Arteta-Aubameyang saga

Aubameyang has admitted his ‘problem’ with the Arsenal manager contributed towards his departure from the Emirates Stadium.

Mikel Arteta’s hard-line stance over Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang proves he has learned from Arsene Wenger’s management, according to former Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour.

Despite Aubameyang being Arsenal’s top earner on a reported £350,000-a-week salary, Arteta stripped the Gabonese striker of the club’s captaincy and dropped him for a ‘disciplinary breach’ in December.

The Gunners boss then allowed him to join Barcelona a month later on a free transfer.

Arteta’s decision was a big call to say the least, but one Parlour thinks was the right move to avoid losing the dressing room – like Wenger did towards the end of his 22-year spell in charge of the club.

🗣 “Wenger didn’t like confrontation. At the end of his reign, players took the mick!”

🔴 “Arteta might have been apart of that so he’s probably learned you can’t do that.”

Ray Parlour believes Mikel Arteta has learned from Wenger’s mistakes over the Aubameyang situation. 👀 pic.twitter.com/0NJkucUxvX

— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) February 4, 2022

“He didn’t like confrontation, Arsene Wenger. He didn’t like having arguments and maybe towards the end of his run people took the mick a little bit,’ Parlour told talkSPORT.

“Mikel Arteta might have been part of that and he’s probably learned from that.

“You can’t do that because suddenly you lose the dressing room and we saw what happened to Arsene Wenger.”

Aubameyang last played for Arsenal in a five-minute cameo against Everton on December 6.

The 32-year-old’s relationship with Arteta broke beyond repair that month after he returned late from a pre-agreed trip to see his mother. He admitted on Thursday that it led to his exit.