Was Mikel Arteta right to drop Aubameyang for the North London Derby?

Was Mikel Arteta right to drop Aubameyang for the North London Derby?

By Jacob Newbury

Mikel Arteta made it crystal clear ‘a line was drawn in the sand’ after dropping captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for the North London Derby on Sunday.

But was the boss right to do so? Even with the three points pocketed, it begs the question whether Auba has a future at the Emirates.

Gunners fan Piers Morgan made his views clear (when doesn’t he?), claiming the Spaniard was ‘disrespectful’ for ‘publicly shaming” his leader (oh, the irony), but with a victory over their fiercest rivals and narrowing the gap to Spurs to four points in the process, surely Arteta is justified in his decision?

It is demonstrably clear the Arsenal boss needed to make a stance. A captain should lead from the front and be an example to the rest of the squad.

When you hear stories about the current crop of Premier League captains like Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson and Cesar Azpilicueta and the example they set to their teammates, it is no wonder the Spaniard realised he needed to make a firm decision.

The squad is youthful and requires a leader. With young attackers like Emile Smith Rowe, Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah in the ranks, a player of Auba’s magnitude will ensure they continue making great strides. Surely he realises his value to the side is far greater than just goals.

Fool me once...

However, what is worrying is this is not the first time.

Arteta’s post-match comments made clear Auba’s importance to the team and that they will move on.

Despite this, The Athletic revealed he quickly darted off after the final whistle and failed to warm down with his fellow substitutes. It shows a bit of petulance and lack of ownership on Aubameyang’s behalf.

This is obviously a hurdle Arteta and Aubameyang need to overcome, and quickly.

While it is safe to say the form of the Gabonese striker has failed to hit the heights of previous seasons, he’s netted far more goals than anybody else in the squad with 14 this campaign - making it 84 since he arrived at in January 2018. 

Arteta’s discipline should come as no surprise to Arsenal fans. After all, his apprenticeship under Pep Guardiola is what formed him as a coach, a man notorious for running a tight ship.

But the boss has made his point and despite beating Spurs, Arsenal are still ten points off the Champions League places with only ten matches remaining. The gaffer can ill afford to ostracise the team’s best player.

Too much to play for

This should not be Arteta’s ‘hair dryer’ moment akin to Sir Alex Ferguson on Roy Keane and David Beckham. Unlike the United squad of then, the Gunners do not have the firepower to continue without Aubameyang.

With a Europa League quarter-final spot close for Arsenal and a run-in featuring fixtures against West Ham, Liverpool, Chelsea and Everton, Auba is needed more than ever.

A fired up Aubameyang is exactly what the club needs, and at 31 years of age, he is one of the elder statesman in the squad. Players will be looking to the skipper for guidance and with a reported £55 million contract, he needs to start proving his worth. 

Both sides have made their point known after the altercation, but this is not a time for egos or grudges, the whole team needs to pull together now for the club's best interests, so let bygones be bygones until the summer at least. 

Proof is in the pudding

The fans will be hoping Auba’s reaction, which is said to be less than accepting, has simmered since Sunday’s fixture. After all, the striker went into the Spurs encounter having netted three in his last four games - a return to form perhaps?

Arteta’s baptism of fire into management was always going to throw up questions. Now, it is his man management credentials that will be questioned after making arguably his biggest decision since arriving from the Etihad.

We have already seen first hand how the Spaniard has dealt with troublemakers in the ranks, with Mesut Ozil and Matteo Guendouzi already shown the door this season, as he shows no regard for reputation - if he doesn’t like you, you’re out.

For all the coaching drills, tactical principles and backroom changes a manager can alter, it is his man management that keeps the team closely bonded. Former gunner Paul Merson called it a ‘masterstroke’, while Stan Collymore described it as ‘idiocy’. Whatever you call it, it was a bold move.

Whether this has been a successful move, time will only tell, and the proof will be in the pudding.

Photo Credit: Getty Images