Italian legend Antonio Cassano has slammed Chelsea forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang over the comments he made about current Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, after a video emerged online where the striker was heard making remarks regarding the Spaniard’s managerial style.
Aubameyang left Arsenal in January this year, completing a free transfer to Spanish giants FC Barcelona before making another switch to Stamford Bridge on Deadline Day in August.
The Gabonese International had a rough last few months in North London with Arsenal. He was stripped of the captaincy after showing up for training late on more than one occasion, as well as a host of disciplinary issues Arteta had to deal with.
Aubameyang and Arteta’s relationship became untenable, resulting in the manager wanting to get rid of the player despite signing a new deal in August 2020.
Upon completion of his move to Barcelona, Aubameyang was recorded saying the following: “I remember they [Barcelona] first called my father. We knew the coach, Xavi, then he called me and said there is an opportunity because you have those problems with Arsenal, but if you come you will help us a lot, so I said, ‘okay’.
“But to manage big characters or big players, he [Arteta] can’t deal with it. He [Arteta] needs some young players, they don’t say anything, they listen.”
Barcelona offloaded Aubameyang just six months after he joined. He was included in a deal that saw left-back Marcos Alonso join the Catalans, as well as Chelsea having to cough up €14million.
The former Arsenal captain has started the campaign in decent fashion, scoring in three consecutive Chelsea games, despite actively looking for a move next summer.
Aubameyang has since come out and defended his comments made in the video, saying it was based off ‘bad feelings.’
“Aware there is a video out that was recorded just after I arrived at Barca. At the time I still had a lot of bad feelings in me – Arsenal are doing great things this season and I wish all my old guys well, just not on November 6,” wrote Aubameyang on his personal Twitter account.
Former Real Madrid and Inter Milan start Antonio Cassano has hit out at the Chelsea star for his comments, labelling it as ‘madness’ due to the superb form Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are in at the start of the campaign.
“Now Aubameyang is speaking as well. He dares to say that Arteta doesn’t know how to handle champions. Does Aubameyang consider himself a champion? But he doesn’t know how to trap the ball,” said Cassano on Bobo TV.
“When Arteta took Arsenal, in a general disaster, there were many players among that and he was there too.
“Try to play football instead of talking about Arteta, who is first in the most important league in the world. For me, it’s madness.”
Aubameyang will be looking to continue his rich vein of form by scoring in his 4th consecutive appearance as Chelsea travel to Aston Villa in the Premier League.
Meanwhile league-leaders Arsenal face a trip to Elland Road to face Leeds United as the Gunners aim to remain top given the titanic clash set for Sunday between Liverpool and Man City at Anfield.
