By Betsefy
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has responded after footage of him criticising Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta following his departure earlier this year was released.
The former Gabon international left the Gunners in January after a fall out with Arteta, moving to Barcelona on a free transfer, but he returned to the Premier League over the summer with Chelsea.
In the interview with A Jewellers, which has only just been released, Aubameyang claimed that his former manager could not “manage big characters or big players”.
“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,” he said in the video.
“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.”
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Aubameyang has now responded, claiming that the video was recorded shortly after his move to Barcelona, when he still had “a lot of bad feelings” towards Arteta.
“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 33-year-old wrote on Twitter.
Aubameyang scored 13 goals and registered one assist in 24 appearances for Barcelona in the second half of last season, but he left over the summer following the arrival of Robert Lewandowski.
Chelsea signed the experienced forward in the final stages of the transfer market, and he has found the back of the net on two occasions since arriving at the club.
Aubameyang has a contract at Stamford Bridge until the summer of 2024, but there is already speculation surrounding a potential move away from the club.
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A recent report claimed that Paris Saint-Germain had been in touch to discuss a deal for the forward, who is open to another move in the summer of 2023.
Aubameyang played under now PSG boss Christophe Galtier at Saint-Etienne, and the French giants are said to view him as the ideal back-up striker for the 2023-24 campaign.
The former AC Milan youngster scored 92 goals in 163 appearances for Arsenal during a successful spell, but his relationship with the Gunners became toxic before his departure.
Aubameyang, who has scored in his last two Chelsea outings against Crystal Palace and AC Milan, could face his former club when the Blues take on Arteta’s side in the Premier League on November 6.
