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Former Arsenal captain, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has finally broken his silence on his contentious exit from the Gunners, revealing that manager Mikel Arteta accused him of \u201cputting a knife in his back.\u201d<\/p>\n

The decision to banish the Gabonese, who was pivotal in winning the FA Cup for Arteta, remains one of the most decisive actions taken by the Arsenal coach.<\/p>\n

Aubameyang had been given a new long-term contract and the captaincy just 18 months before his departure to Barcelona, following the termination of his contract.<\/p>\n

After being used as a late substitute in a loss to Everton, Aubameyang was left out of the squad for the subsequent game against Southampton.<\/p>\n

Arteta didn\u2019t explain the reason for his absence, but it was linked to Aubameyang returning late from visiting his sick mother, thus breaching COVID-19 protocols.<\/p>\n

Reflecting on the incident in an interview with @Colininterview, Aubameyang recounted:<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was during the COVID period and we were playing, I think, Everton.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy season wasn\u2019t great, we were struggling in the league and the day before the coach told us: \u2018Look, it doesn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy 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: \u2018Coach, I\u2019m coming to see you because I\u2019d like to leave, I\u2019m going to go pick up my mother to bring her back for the holidays.\u2019 He tells me no problem.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe knew very well what had happened, the day it happened he had already given me permission to go see her. So he gives me authorisation and tells me to check with the doc about the return in relation to Covid.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going home to Laval, normally I was supposed to leave on the free day and return in the evening rather than the morning of training. My mother had exams to do, I couldn\u2019t leave in the evening so I left the next morning on training day. Once I got there, I had to take my test but in fact I should have done it the day before since I was coming from another country.<\/p>\n

\u201cI arrive, the coach finishes his meeting and then he grabs me and he completely tears into me, he shouts at me like I\u2019m crazy, he says: \u2018You put a knife in my back.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t do that to me given the times we\u2019re going through.\u2019 At that moment I tell myself that I\u2019m not going to answer him because it\u2019s going to end angrily. I didn\u2019t go partying. He knows very well the reason for my departure so at that moment I don\u2019t understand why he is lecturing me like this.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe days pass and the doctor tells me: \u2018Look, he doesn\u2019t want you to be with the group anymore, but you will be able to come and train but separately.\u2019 I say to myself ok\u2026 And then afterwards, he calls me and we have a meeting so he can explain to me that one, he\u2019s taking away the captain\u2019s armband, and two, I\u2019m not training any more with the group.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt affects a man, it was difficult. How to get out? Often we say that we have to talk about it, there\u2019s no shame in that.\u201d<\/p>\n

EPL: \u2018No shame\u2019 \u2013 Aubameyang opens up on Arteta\u2019s accusations, painful Arsenal exit<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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