Piers Morgan says Mikel Arteta is 'publicly humiliating' Aubameyang
Mikel Arteta is ‘publicly humiliating Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for going to see his sick mother’, says Piers Morgan, as Arsenal boss sticks by the exile of his deposed captain for another game
- Mikel Arteta says Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will not play for Arsenal at Leeds
- Aubameyang has been stripped of the captaincy and dropped from the squad
- Piers Morgan insists Arteta is ‘publicly humiliating’ the 32-year-old striker
- Arsenal have won both of their matches since Aubameyang has been dropped
Piers Morgan has jumped to the defence of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang once again, insisting Mikel Arteta is ‘publicly humiliating him’ as the striker continues to be absent after losing the Arsenal captaincy.
Aubameyang was stripped of the captaincy earlier this week and dropped from the squad following a breach of discipline.
The striker failed to report back in time for a Covid test after travelling to France, with his manager’s permission, to visit his unwell mother.
Piers Morgan has jumped to the defence of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after Mikel Arteta said he would not be involved against Leeds on Saturday
Morgan insisted Arteta is ‘publicly humiliating him’ after he was removed as the club’s captain
The Gunners have coped well in the striker’s absence, beating Southampton 3-0 at the weekend before goals from youngsters Gabriel Martinelli and Emile Smith Rowe secured a 2-0 win over West Ham on Wednesday.
Arsenal are back in action against Leeds on Saturday and Arteta has confirmed that Aubameyang will not be involved once again at Elland Road.
‘He is not available for selection,’ the Spaniard said on Friday morning.
Asked if he has a future at the club or what he has to do get back in favour, Arteta swerved both questions, repeating: ‘For this game he is not available for selection.’
But Morgan, a renowned Arsenal fan, was furious with Arteta’s reasoning for leaving Aubameyang out again and vented his fury on Twitter.
He posted: ‘No, @Auba IS available but his manager wants to continue publicly humiliating him for going to see his sick mother.’
Arteta dodged questions on Aubameyang’s future but insisted he will not play at Elland Road
In the aftermath of the announcement that Aubameyang was no longer club captain, Morgan took to social media to write: ‘Shameful decision by Arteta.
‘What a disgusting way to treat a man who went – with the club’s full knowledge & permission – to help his sick mother.’
It came after a statement released by Arsenal that said ‘we expect all our players, particularly our captain, to work to the rules and standards we have all set and agreed’ in light of Aubameyang’s breach.
Arsenal had agreed the striker would return to England later on Wednesday evening, in turn ensuring he would be available to train on Thursday morning.
Instead, Aubameyang reportedly flew home on Thursday morning, and due to current Covid protocols was unable to return to training until he had produced a negative PCR test.
Arsenal agreed the striker would return on Wednesday but he reportedly flew home Thursday
Sportsmail understands the latest incident only amplified pre-existing concerns regarding Aubameyang’s position as captain, with the decision made amid worry of disruptions to the wider squad.
Alex Lacazette wore the armband in the Gabon forward’s absence, with the French striker one of the senior figures in Arsenal’s ‘leadership group’ which will take temporary charge of the captaincy while Arteta searches for his next club captain.
Granit Xhaka, who was stripped of the captaincy himself in late 2019 after publicly criticising the Arsenal faithful, is also part of that group with out-of-favour defender Rob Holding another senior leader.
The likes of Kieran Tierney, Martin Odegaard, Ben White and Aaron Ramsdale have all been tipped as potential Arsenal captains for Arteta – a former Gunners skipper himself – to choose.
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