‘Was a shock’: Arsenal’s Arteta responds to Gabon manager; shares what he told Aubameyang

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta spoke to the media about Gabon manager Patrice Neveu’s comments regarding Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s international future.

The Gunners skipper, along with the entire Gabon squad, were seen spending a night in an airport. Some of them had to sleep on the floor, and Aubameyang’s national team boss felt that Arsenal would never allow their skipper to play for his country again.

Neavu said earlier this week: “Arsenal called Pierre-Emerick. After seeing him in those conditions, it’s over. They won’t let him come again.”

Arteta has dismissed those comments in his press conference today. The Arsenal boss admitted that it was a shock to see his skipper in that situation but refused to make a big deal out of the incident.

He told Arsenal’s official website: “No [Neavu’s comments are untrue]. Obviously, it was a shock to see a full squad sleeping the way they were doing. I always believe that everybody’s trying to do their best and the Gabon national team are trying to organise things the best possible way. Sometimes unpredictable things happen and it was an experience.

“I said to Auba: ‘Take it as an experience. I’m sure for many months or years you haven’t slept on the floor, take it from there and just make sure when you’re in your bed, you know how good it is, how comfortable is it and how lucky you are’.

“You cannot change it, you cannot rewind it so take it the way it is and move on. I hope that the next time it doesn’t happen and that our players have the rest that they need.”

Arteta has handled the situation perfectly. It is never ideal for players to experience what Aubameyang and his teammates did, but it is not the end of the world.

The Arsenal boss could have criticized Gabon after what happened, but that would only have made things worse. He will be glad that there isn’t another international break any time soon, and he will be hoping Aubameyang will be fit and ready when the Gunners face Leeds United on Sunday.