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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Aims One Final Dig At Mikel Arteta In Barcelona Unveiling Interview
Aubameyang wanted the last say.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has taken one final shot at former manager Mikel Arteta after completing his move to Barcelona.
The 32-year-old was officially unveiled as a Barcelona player on Thursday after cancelling his contract with Arsenal.
Aubameyang was club captain until being stripped of the armband in December and he'd never play for the Gunners again.
During his first interview as a Barcelona player, the forward took aim at Arteta's treatment in those final months.
"My last few months at Arsenal were complicated, that's football sometimes," he said.
"For my part, I never wanted to do anything wrong. My problem was only with Arteta. I can't say much more, I wasn't happy.
"They were complicated months and I think that this is football sometimes. If I have to say something on this subject I say that I have never wanted to do something wrong.
"This is in the past and I want to think about the present. I haven't played for a long time, but everything is very clear in my head. I'm ready to play and help. I know we're going to return to the top little by little."
Aubameyang played a key role in Arsenal's FA Cup triumph in 2020, Arteta's first trophy as a manager.
Arteta has frozen a number of key players out at Arsenal in his two-year reign as manager.
Matteo Guendouzi has been frozen out and sent on two different loan spells, while Mesut Ozil was left out of the club's Premier League and Europa League squads before his departure.
The Gunners failed to replace Aubameyang in the transfer window and will have Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah to choose from up front.
Dusan Vlahovic was top of their wishlist but he left Fiorentina for Juventus and Alexander Isak stayed at Real Sociedad.
Aubameyang's move to the Camp Nou will see him reunite with Ousmane Dembele after four and a half years.
The duo played together at Borussia Dortmund before Dembele moved to Spain in a €105 million deal.
Dembele's contract is set to expire in the summer and he failed to seal a move away last month.
Despite that, Aubameyang is hoping he can resolve his differences.
"As I said before, I hope that both parties find a solution," the Gabon international added. "I cannot decide that."
Featured Image Credit: Football Daily & AlamyTopics: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Barcelona, Mikel Arteta, Arsenal
Daniel Marland