Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has taken a swipe at Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, claiming he can’t handle ‘big players’.
Aubameyang, who joined Chelsea during the summer transfer window, infamously fell out with Arteta while he played for the Gunners.
The forward spent four years in north London, netting 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 sacked Aubameyang as captain due to several disciplinary issues.
The fall-out was irreconcillable and the Gunners terminated the forward’s contract in February, greasing the wheels for a move to Barcelona.
And, reflecting on his Arsenal exit, Aubameyang took a swipe at Arteta’s management style.
‘I remember they [Barcelona] first called my father,’ Aubameyang told A Jewellers.
‘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’.
‘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.’
Aubameyang only spent six months with Barcelona, netting 13 times in 24 games for the club.
Due to their well-publicised financial troubles, the Catalan giants were keen to move him on and with Chelsea desperate to add a striker, the 33-year-old moved to the Blues during the summer.
Aubameyang has started well for Graham Potter’s side, netting twice in four games so far.
Chelsea face Arsenal on November 6 and Aubameyang’s comments about Arteta will only add further fuel to the fire in what is likely to be a feisty encounter.
