PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG was the ‘first Arsenal star to leave’ after yesterday’s excellent 2-1 victory over Tottenham.
The Gunners skipper was surprisingly dropped to the bench due to an unspecified disciplinary matter.
Aubameyang, 31, was an unused substitute against TottenhamCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Boss Mikel Arteta later confirmed that Aubameyang had been due to start before the issue arose.
But as the Spaniard was doing so in his post-match interview Aubameyang’s Ferrari could reportedly already be heard leaving the ground.
The Athletic claim that Aubameyang left just 23 minutes after the final whistle, not taking part in the post-match warm-down with his fellow unused substitutes.
While Hector Bellerin, Pablo Mari and Rob Holding were put through their paces by fitness coach Shad Forsyth, Aubameyang was nowhere to be seen.
They also claim that the reason for the 31-year-old’s axe was lateness, therefore ‘breaking team protocol’.
The striker was reportedly seen stuck in traffic in his holographic chrome-wrapped Ferrari around Muswell Hill before the match.
Arteta, 38, made the bold call to drop his captain in order to make a point.
Aubameyang was disciplined earlier in the campaign for missing a Covid test before a European trip, and also reprimanded by the club for breaking regulations to get a tattoo last month.
Aubameyang’s Ferrari was allegedly seen in Muswell Hill before the game
Arsenal star Aubameyang drives to games in his holographic chrome-wrapped Ferrari
FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE
While his team-mates rushed onto the pitch at the final whistle of yesterday’s win to celebrate a huge result, Aubameyang was reportedly one of the first players down the tunnel.
He did, however, take to Instagram to toast the triumph.
Accompanying a picture of his victorious team-mates, he wrote: “North London is Red and that’s it !!!🔴⚪️”
While Aubameyang was disappointed not to feature, this episode is not expected to significantly harm his relationship with Arteta.
After the game, the Gunners boss looked to put the issue to bed.
Mikel Arteta made the brave call before the gameCredit: AP:Associated Press
Stand-in skipper Alexandre Lacazette bagged the winner from the spotCredit: Getty Images – Getty
He said: “We have a way of living together. We have to respect each other and that’s it.
“He was going to start the game, we had a disciplinary issue, we have drawn the line and we move on.
“We have a process that we have to respect for every game and that’s it.
“It was a decision made after evaluating everything and who Auba is and what he’s done.
I made what I thought was the right decision. We draw a line there. Now let’s move on again
Mikel Arteta
“We have other players who can play. Recently we have changed the team quite a lot and there are players who are willing to play and deserve a chance, so I’m comfortable with that.
“I made what I thought was the right decision. We draw a line there. Now let’s move on again.
“We know how important Auba is for us, for the club. That’s it. That’s been dealt with so let’s move on.”
⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
Arteta responds to Aubameyang being dropped for reporting late for the North London derby
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
