PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG has opened up about his infamous clash with Mikel Arteta that ultimately led to his departure from Arsenal.
Aubameyang left the Gunners in a shock free transfer three years ago after being dropped from the first-team squad.
He was initially dropped by Arteta in early December 2021, but was later stripped of his captaincy.
It was revealed that the attacker had returned late from a trip to France, visiting his mother and flying her back to London.
That turned out to be the main catalyst for his winter departure from the club.
However, Aubamyang insists he will never apologize for making the journey to and from France, despite the eventual outcome.
In a recent interview with The Athletic, he said: “My mistake. I should have come back the night before, but I arrived in the morning. I didn't tell them I was going to miss the flight because I was preoccupied with the my mother's problems.” things (medical examinations).
“I went straight to a team meeting. Everything was normal. Then he (Arteta) said: 'Come with me'. Here he started shouting.
“He said I couldn't do this because I was the captain and it wasn't acceptable.
“He said I gave him a knife in the back; I don't know why he said that. I was really pissed because it wasn't true and he knew why I was flying.
“He knew the reason and what happened, he knew I was having a hard time that year. I expected help from him, not to kill me like this.”
Aubameyang continued: “If I'm late, (and) it's my fault – no problem. I always said sorry.
“But in this case I will never say sorry. For taking my mother from Laval (his birthplace in France) to London? No.
'Even if I was a day late, I would never say sorry. You either understand it or you don't. If not, don't give the day off or tell people they can't fly.'
The striker had signed a three-year contract extension with Arsenal just a year before his fallout with Arteta.
But before he put pen to paper, Aubameyang wanted to LEAVE North London in search of pastures new.
He said: “I was talking to Alexandre Lacazette on the bus. Every fan said: 'Sign da ting!'.
“Laca asked me: 'What are you going to do?' I thought, 'To tell you the truth, I really don't know.'
“If I'm honest, at that moment I wanted to go. For me it was time to look for a new challenge. I spent my time. It was a lot of fun, but I had to change.
“It was four years ago, I did a great job and maybe it was time to leave it like that, neat and clean, so that people remember me as a good Arsenal player. I felt I had to go because if I stayed , something would go wrong.”
Instead, he decided to extend his stay after being persuaded by Arteta.
But sixteen months later he found himself an outcast.
Despite his feud with Arteta, Aubameyang received a “great message” from the Arsenal boss as they parted ways.
He continued: “You can't stay with that negativity,” before admitting that he will “always love Arsenal” even though he spent a short spell at rival club Chelsea in the 2022/2023 season.
The Gabon international now plays for Al Qadsiah in the Saudi Pro League.
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