I’ve cleared air with Aubameyang and we’re moving on, says Arteta
MIKEL Arteta has held talks with Pierre-emerick Aubameyang after dropping the Arsenal captain for Sunday’s north London derby — but says he cannot guarantee the striker will start against Olympiakos this evening.
Aubameyang was axed after breaching pre-match protocol and remained an unused substitute as Arsenal came from behind to beat rivals Tottenham 2-1.
He then left the Emirates Stadium instead of joining his fellow substitutes for a warm-down session on the pitch. Speaking after the game, Arteta said he had to discipline Aubameyang to sustain the club’s long-term “foundation”.
On the eve of the second leg of Arsenal’s Europa League round-of-16 clash with Olympiakos, Arteta revealed he and his skipper had cleared the air — but stopped short of saying he would be recalled, with the Gunners 3-1 ahead in the tie.
“Yes,” he replied when asked if everything with Aubameyang had been sorted.
“We talked, everything has been resolved in a really positive way. So we move forward.
“Everybody has to obviously perform at the highest level to earn his place in the team and there are no exceptions there. We will try and put a really competitive team out to try and win.”
Arsenal were knocked out by Olympiakos at the round-of-32 stage last season, despite defending a first-leg lead.
Arteta does not consider the contest finished this year, even if late goals in Athens from Gabriel Magalhaes and Mohamed Elneny gives them a greater cushion.
“Absolutely not,” he replied when asked if the tie was over.
“From what I’ve seen from Olympiakos and the amount of games that they have won in the final minutes and the belief they have, it will be tough and they will try to put us under pressure. There is still a lot to play for.”