Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang made a sharp remark toward Arsenal just before his contract was terminated 18 months early.
The primary cause of Aubameyang’s early exit was his strained relationship with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.
Their collaboration began positively but eventually soured, leading to a contentious end. Aubameyang was instrumental in Arsenal’s 2020 FA Cup victory, but his performance levels started to dip afterward.
In early 2021, he missed a north London derby due to traffic issues and later took time off to care for his ill mother. This period marked the beginning of more serious conflicts with Arteta.
Arteta’s frustration grew when Aubameyang returned late from France, further delayed by Covid-19 protocols.
This incident was particularly problematic given Aubameyang’s role as the club captain.
In an interview with Colinterview (via Football.London), Aubameyang recounted: “I arrived just as the coach finished his meeting, and he immediately confronted me. He shouted at me, saying I had betrayed him and couldn’t believe I would do such a thing during these challenging times.
I decided not to respond to avoid escalating the situation. He knew I wasn’t partying and understood why I was late. It didn’t make sense to me why he was so harsh.”
Aubameyang continued, “I went home, and the doctor called to inform me that the coach didn’t want me at the next training session.
I knew it would cause more controversy and couldn’t understand the rationale.” Despite being one of the highest earners at £350,000-a-week, Aubameyang was soon stripped of the captaincy and made to train alone.
He also faced negative press before the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations when he was sent home for disciplinary reasons.
Aubameyang and teammate Mario Lemina were seen partying and breaching Covid-19 protocols, though Aubameyang claimed his exit was due to medical reasons.
The ultimate slight to Arsenal came when Aubameyang flew to Barcelona without any prior agreement between the clubs.
This move led to the termination of his Arsenal contract in February 2022, 18 months before it was due to expire. He quickly signed with Barcelona, where he rediscovered his form, scoring 13 goals in 23 matches.
Reflecting on his final conversation with Arteta, Aubameyang said: “[Arteta] explained his stance against me during that difficult period for the club, insisting I needed to be an example and shouldn’t have returned late. I acknowledged my responsibility but felt he should understand my situation.
After that, it was over. I trained alone for a month, waiting for a resolution.” During this period, Aubameyang turned to alcohol to cope with the depression caused by this “difficult passage” in his career. He admitted, “It was tough. Talking about it helped, and there’s no shame in that.”
Ultimately, the separation turned out well for both parties. Aubameyang is now thriving at Marseille, while Arsenal has become a title contender under Arteta. However, their final days together were marred by conflict, ending a once-promising relationship on a sour note.
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