The striker’s exit was not without drama, as we now know thanks to Amazon Prime’s All of Nothing series.
The Gabonese was once a popular player in London but ended his time at the Emirates on a sour note, as Arteta first axed him as the club captain and then from the first team altogether.
Multiple transgressions and violations had created a rift between the player and the manager that was unsalvageable, leading to the point where Aubameyang started looking for fresher pastures.
Barcelona provided him with an exit, which he gladly took, ending his time with the Gunners which saw him score 92 times in 163 games.
Viewers of the Prime show would remember that Arteta had “a catalogue of misdemeanours” which were used to rationalize the manager’s actions against the player.
Following the move, Auba returned to goalscoring ways, netting 13 times in 24 games for the Spanish team.
His stint in Spain was short-lived though as he left the same year to return back to London, but this time with Arsenal’s rival Chelsea.
Having already scored 2 goals in 4 games thus far, the 33-year-old will be looking to continue his form for the rest of the season and show his former London employers that they were wrong.
It is clear that there is some bad blood between these former employers and Auba, specifically with Arteta.
The Spaniard was very vocal against the player and was instrumental in getting him out of the club.
Aubameyang too harbours some things against his former gaffer. In footage that has gone viral, the striker met A Jewellers, a celebrity jeweller, in Paris and can be heard criticising Mikel Arteta.
Aubameyang said, “Big characters and big players…he can’t deal with it”.
This was followed up with someone asking if the Gunners manager had good people skills, to which he replied, “He needs some young players who don’t say anything, they just listen.”
The Gabonese also talks about Mesut Ozil’s departure from the club, who was given a similar treatment that Auba got, before leaving for Fenerbahce in Turkey.
The footage clearly proves why Arteta’s actions against the striker were warranted and just, and Twitter has been quick to latch on to this.
🗣 Aubameyang on Arteta: "Big characters and big players…he can't deal with it. He needs some young players who don't say anything."
This is really low from @Auba. As soon as he wants out he'll create problems in the locker room and blame it on someome else. pic.twitter.com/eIflZHewis
#AFC | Aubameyang coming out the way he did is comical at best. Prima Donna that only cares about himself. Arteta doesn’t want big personalities? We don’t need big personalities when the collective is this connected. Personalities don’t titles. Unity does. Hope this helps. ✌🏾
Any other arsenal fans or just me that can’t stand aubameyang? I feel not one bit of connection to him like other plays that have come and gone. Arrogant bellend.
Since the separation, Arsenal have arguably enjoyed better fortunes than Auba.
They went on to replace him with Gabriel Jesus, who has started his London career in tremendous form and has become a favourite in the stands.
Other young players like Martinelli, Saka and Odegaard have also stepped up, and frankly speaking, are much better off without Auba’s negative mindset and “bigger-than-the-club” attitude.
Arteta’s project, which many questioned a season ago but not anymore, is well and truly on track and removing Aubameyang from the team was a much-needed step along the way.
Not that he owed anyone an explanation for this but if he had to give one, he could just show Auba’s leaked video to prove his point.
