In an interview with Colinterview, former Arsenal Football Club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang revealed the reason behind his departure from the North London club.
When asked about the situation between himself and Mikel Arteta, Aubameyang clarified that his decision to leave Arsenal was not due to attending a party, as was suggested in the media narrative.
“It was during the COVID period and we were playing, I think, Everton. My season wasn’t great, we were struggling in the league and the day before the coach told us, Look, it doesn’t matter if we win or not, you have a day off. But if you want to leave, you notify yourself before the match because you have to follow the health safety rules.
My mother a few months before had a stroke, it was going to be Christmas time so I went to see the coach and I said to him: Coach, I am coming to see you because I’d like to leave, I’m going to go pick up my mother to bring her back for the holidays. He tells me no problem.”
He continued, “I arrive, the coach finishes his meeting and then he grabs me and he completely tears into me, he shouts at me like I’m crazy, he says, You put a knife in my back. You can’t do that to me given the times we’re going through. At that moment I tell myself that I’m not going to answer him because it’s going to end angrily. I didn’t go partying.
He knows very well the reason for my departure so at that moment I don’t understand why he is lecturing me like this. I go home and the doctor calls me and says tomorrow, the coach doesn’t want you to be there. The days pass and the doctor tells me, Look, he doesn’t want you to be with the group anymore, but you will be able to come and train but separately.
I say to myself ok, And then afterwards, he calls me and we have a meeting so he can explain to me that one, he’s taking away the captain’s armband, and two, I’m not training any more with the group.”
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang left Arsenal during the January 2022 transfer window. He then joined Chelsea in the summer of the same year. Following his stint at Chelsea, Aubameyang decided to join Marseille in the summer of 2023, signing a three-year deal with the French club.