David Moyes does not find it surprising that Mikel Arteta has taken a single-minded style to his time in management after removing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as Arsenal’s captain.
The Gunners announced on Tuesday that Aubameyang will no longer possess the armband after a disciplinary breach last week. The incident led to his omission from the Arsenal side against Southampton, and Arteta will also not consider him for selection against West Ham.
Arsenal described Aubameyang’s disciplinary breach as his ‘latest’ incident, leading Arteta to remove him as captain. The striker had held the armband since November 2019 when promoted by Unai Emery, who took it off Granit Xhaka.
Arteta will hope Arsenal can take another win without Aubameyang when they host West Ham on Wednesday. They beat Southampton 3-0 without the Gabon forward on Saturday.
Moyes comments on Arsenal captaincy change
Arsenal have not yet named Aubameyang’s replacement as captain ahead of facing Moyes’ West Ham. The Hammers coach does not believe the change in leadership at the Emirates Stadium will have much influence on Wednesday’s encounter for his side, however.
“It is not huge news for us at West Ham,” Moyes said, via quotes by football.london. “Managers have to make decisions and for whatever reason, Mikel has made that decision.
“The captain we’ve got here has been great for the club. We talk a lot about things at the club and on the field, and he’s doing a great job of preparing Declan Rice for being a future captain.”
Moyes praises Arteta mindset as manager after Aubameyang decision
Moyes has also praised Arteta’s mindset as Arsenal’s manager to deal with big topics, like taking the captaincy off Aubameyang. The West Ham boss additionally notes how Arteta working under the likes of Pep Guardiola would have helped to mould him as a head coach.
“I saw a bit of his singlemindedness and it is not a surprise,” Moyes added. “He has worked under Pep Guardiola and taken lots of information from him, and he was a really good footballer himself.
“I think he has made a good start to his Arsenal [managerial] career. He has done very well and has a couple of trophies under his belt and built a good team.”
Arteta led Arsenal to the 2019/20 FA Cup after replacing Emery a month after the Spaniard appointed Aubameyang as captain. They also won the Community Shield that summer, but finished both of his Premier League campaigns in charge in eight-place.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
