Former Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was once one of the club’s most influential players but saw his time at the Emirates come to an abrupt end after a breakdown in his relationship with Mikel Arteta.
Aubameyang has now opened up about his exit from Arsenal and his shock at Arteta’s decision to turn against him. The 35-year-old Gabonese forward, who was captain at the time, was stripped of the armband, sidelined, and eventually moved on after a series of incidents strained his relationship with the manager.
The turning point came in December 2021 when Aubameyang returned late from a trip to France to visit his ill mother, a situation further complicated by COVID-19 protocols. This marked the end of both his Arsenal career and his rapport with Arteta, who Aubameyang believes could have shown more understanding.
In an interview with The Athletic, Aubameyang reflected on the situation, admitting he made a mistake by not returning earlier but expressing frustration with how Arteta handled the matter.
“My mistake. I should have come back the night before, but I arrived in the morning. I didn’t tell them I’d miss the flight because I was preoccupied with my mum’s medical examinations. I went directly to a team meeting, and everything seemed normal. After that, he [Arteta] called me aside and started shouting, saying I couldn’t do this as captain and that it was unacceptable,” Aubameyang said.
He added that he was angered by Arteta’s reaction, claiming the manager knew the circumstances behind his absence. “He said I gave him a knife in his back. I don’t know why he said that. I was really upset because it wasn’t true, and he knew why I flew. He knew what was happening and that I was struggling that year. I expected support from him, not for him to handle it this way.
“When I’m late and it’s my fault, no problem—I’ve always apologized. But in this case, I’ll never say sorry. For taking my mum from Laval to London? No. Even if I came back a day late, I wouldn’t apologize. You either understand or you don’t. If not, don’t give time off or tell players they can’t travel.”
Weeks later, Aubameyang departed Arsenal for Barcelona during the January transfer window. He has since played for Chelsea, Marseille, and Al-Qadsiah, the Saudi Pro League side he joined in the summer.
Aubameyang also revealed that his relationship with Arteta was already strained before the incident, citing a separate occasion when he was late for the North London derby earlier in the year, which marked the beginning of their rift.
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