Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has told The Independent that he doesn’t think Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang disrespected him on Sunday night.
The Gunners beat Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday, with Aubameyang scoring the only goal of he game from the penalty spot.
After the game, Aubameyang spoke about his manager, and called him by his name – Mikel – rather than a more formal, impersonal name.
Former United hero Roy Keane had something to say about that, suggesting that Aubameyang was shown disrespect by calling Arteta by his first name.
Keane feels that players should call their manager by names such as ‘boss’ or ‘gaffer’, believing that such names show a suitable level of respect.
The Irishman thinks Aubameyang was talking about his manager like they’re friends rather than having a clear division of power between them, something he rather predictably didn’t have with Sir Alex Ferguson.
Arteta was asked about Keane’s comments ahead of tonight’s game with Molde, and claims that there is no issue at all and Aubameyang didn’t disrespect him – even though he did understand Keane’s point, as it was something he did worry about in the past.
“I was told that Roy mentioned that, but I don’t think it particularly. I give the players the choice, some call me boss or coach, it depends,” said Arteta.
“I shared a dressing room with some of them, so there has been that change, but I don’t feel any disrespect. Although, I understand Roy and why he was saying that. It is something that was a bit of a concern before I joined, but not now. Both parties have to understand respect and go about the relationship in the right way and the players have made it really easy for me. In the end, we are part of the same thing and it has not been something that has been difficult to manage,” he added.
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