Mikel Arteta has downplayed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s taunts during a promotional video for Chelsea’s Premier League match against Arsenal on Sunday.
Aubameyang will face Arteta and Arsenal for the first time since he left the Gunners to join Barcelona earlier this year.
Aubameyang’s relationship with Arteta during his final few months at Arsenal deteriorated after he had the captaincy taken away from him following a series of disciplinary breaches.
Arteta gave the green light for Arsenal to cancel Aubameyang’s contract in February, which paved the way for his move to Barcelona on a free transfer.
But the Spanish club were forced to offload Aubameyang in the summer due to their financial troubles. The 33-year-old then ended up joining Chelsea in the closing stages of the transfer window.
Ahead of the match at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, Aubameyang has stoked tension with Arsenal’s supporters with his appearance in an advert for BT Sport.
During the advert, Aubameyang says, “Arsenal, nothing personal, I’m back, I’m blue, I’m ready.”
Aubameyang wants all the smoke😳🤣 pic.twitter.com/20V5FwhCOF
— Footebate (@footebate) November 3, 2022
What Arteta Said
When asked about Aubameyang’s statement, Arteta replied: “You expect players to do that.
If you ask any of our players how they feel about where they are, they will say the same.”
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Asked how dangerous Aubameyang could be against Arsenal, Arteta said: “Very dangerous. If Auba has something, it’s the ability to put the ball in the back of the net.
“And he’s going to be doing that until the day that he decides he’s had enough of football.
“We will have to look first of all at what Chelsea do and try to put a plan together to avoid that.”
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