Stephen Dunmoye
Former Gunners forward, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who spent four years in north London, has said that Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta cannot manage ‘big players’, adding that he needs some young players who will just listen to him.
Aubameyang, who joined Chelsea during the summer transfer window, infamously fell out with Arteta while he played for the Gunners.
He spent four years in north London, scoring 92 goals in 163 games. This included just over two years with Arteta at the helm but his final few months at the club turned sour as the Spaniard stripped Aubameyang as captain due to several disciplinary issues.
The fall-out was irreconcillable and the Gunners terminated the forward’s contract in February, which saw him join Barcelona.
And reflecting on his Arsenal exit, Aubameyang criticized Arteta’s management style.
According to Aubameyang, “Arteta needs some young players, they don’t say anything, they listen. But to manage big characters or big players, he (Arteta) can’t deal with it.
“I remember Barcelona first called my father. 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’.
Aubameyang only spent six months with Barcelona, netting 13 times in 24 games for the club.