Arsenal are embroiled in a bitter row with Borussia Dortmund over their £53million pursuit of striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The Gunners are closing in on the Gabon international, as it emerged the striker had been axed from the German side’s squad to face Hertha Berlin on Friday night.
Earlier in the day, Gunners manager Arsene Wenger was branded ‘disrespectful’ by Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc for comments made about Aubameyang potentially being a good fit at Arsenal.
Zorc claimed the Frenchman has ‘enough to think about when it comes to the performance of his own players’ — a thinly-veiled attack on Arsenal’s poor form.
Speaking on Thursday, Wenger claimed Aubameyang had the right character to fit in at the Emirates.
Zorc hit back, saying: ‘It is a lack of respect. We believe Arsene Wenger has enough to think about when it comes to the performances of his own players.’
Earlier, when pressed on whether Aubameyang’s character would fit in at Arsenal given his bad boy reputation, Wenger added: ‘Yes, because character can be a very positive note.
‘Look at the achievements of a player during his career and usually, when a career has been positive, the character has been positive.’
Despite the tension, Arsenal are growing increasingly confident of securing a potential three-and-a-half year deal worth around £170,000-per-week. It is still possible that Olivier Giroud will move to Dortmund as part of the deal.
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