Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta insists he is “very grateful” for what Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang did for the club during his time in north London.
Aubameyang has been linked with a move to the Gunners’ London rivals, Chelsea, in recent weeks.
‘All Or Nothing: Arsenal’ splits opinion on Arteta. And Aston Villa are in trouble
Speaking on Friday, Blues head coach Thomas Tuchel was asked about the Gabonese forward, revealing that he has a “close bond” with his former Borussia Dortmund player.
And unsurprisingly, Arteta’s press conference on Friday included some questions about the 33-year-old.
The Spaniard was asked if he regretted how he handled the situation surrounding Aubameyang last season.
The Gabon captain had his club armband stripped from him in December following a disciplinary breach and he was ultimately allowed to join Barcelona for free in the winter transfer window.
“Listen, it’s a long time since that happened,” Arteta said (quotes via Football London). “I cannot go back each time there is a series. I have made my comments on that.
“I was really clear and honest with my opinion. What has been done has always been done to defend the club and put it in the best possible position, and be always as clear as, honest and consistent as we can.”
It was revealed in the ‘All or Nothing: Arsenal’ docuseries that Arteta had a “catalogue” of Aubameyang’s “misdemeanours”, and a reporter asked if he expects Chelsea to ask for the dossier he kept on the player.
He responded: “Auba is an exceptional player. He did so much for us. He was our captain, and I think we have to be grateful, very grateful as well, for what he did for this club.”
On if he will receive a good reception at the Emirates if he returns: “I hope he does because I think he deserves that.
“There are moments in life, there are moments in your career, and sometimes the trajectory or the objective of each individual is different to the clubs – and you have to respect that.”
There is a huge emphasis on the club’s culture in the Amazon documentary and how Arteta was concerned with it this time last year, however, he insists is now pleased with where the club are.
“I am really happy with where we are, the people we have at the club and what we’re building,” he said. “I could not be happier with that.
“It was the club’s vision to completely change that and create and install (a culture) that makes people who are working at the…
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