Gabby Agbonlahor has claimed that the transfer situation involving Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at Arsenal is ‘confusing’, as he told talkSPORT.
The radio pundit thinks Mikel Arteta is so ‘stubborn’ that he would probably prefer to play a false nine for Arsenal than bring back Aubameyang.
Since Arsenal were beaten at Everton in December, Aubameyang not only hasn’t played for the club, but he has also been stripped of the captain’s armband.
It’s pretty clear that player and manager relationship has gone well and truly out of the window.
The only solution seems to be for the player to head for the exit door and that’s what will seemingly happen before Monday’s transfer deadline.
Barcelona are closing in on signing Aubameyang, as the two clubs are in ‘advanced talks’ over a loan move to the Nou Camp for the Gabon striker, as reported by Sky Sports.
This is what Agbonlahor made of the whole Aubameyang situation and how interested parties can play the difficult game with the Gunners.
“The Aubameyang one really confuses me,” said Agbonlahor. “If I am an owner or chief executive of Juventus or these clubs that are in for Aubameyang.
“You probably are going to leave it until the last minute, aren’t you? And maybe give £100k-a-week of his wages, no loan fee because they know that Aubameyang and Arteta aren’t going to make up.
“If they aren’t going to make up, then he is going to just be sitting there any way for the next three months.
“Arteta just looks like a stubborn character, doesn’t he? I just can’t see him, even if he has no strikers, and play a false nine rather than bring Aubameyang back in.”
Many have compared this Aubameyang situation to the one involving Mesut Ozil and rightly so.
When Arteta insisted it was his way or the highway with the German international, many were questioning whether he made the right call.
Well, fast forward to today and the Gunners have the likes of Emile Smith Rowe and Martin Odegaard patrolling their creative department.
That call Arteta decided to make with Ozil, in the long run, has paid off and it might just be the case with Aubameyang also.
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