Mikel Arteta claims 'several players' held Arsenal back

The head coach refused to single out Aubameyang for restricting Arsenal’s progress.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has claimed ‘several players’ held the north London club back.

Arteta made this remark while discussing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s abrupt exit from the Emirates Stadium last February in a Sky Sports interview with Jamie Carragher.

Aubameyang left under a cloud after Arteta stripped him of the captain’s armband for disciplinary reasons. Arsenal then tore up the striker’s £350,000-a-week contract, paving the way for a move to Barcelona. He returned to the Premier League in September by joining Chelsea.

“First of all I didn’t take that decision, we took that decision as a club,” Arteta said of the decision to release Aubameyang.

“Obviously there is my recommendation and what I feel we need to do to get where we want. But I wouldn’t like to single out one player. I think it was with several players. It was part of the strategy of what we’re trying to build.

“At the end of the day, when you are in that process and you want to go faster there are people holding that boat [back] and putting weight on it.

“I’m sorry but we want to go even faster and there’s no time, whether it’s a player or a staff member, for someone damaging the club and we made that decision.”

Arsenal have since thrived under Arteta this season, building up a five-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table. They next face West Ham on Boxing Day.