01 May 2023 , 21:30
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Mikel Arteta wants Arsenal fans to roll out the welcome mat for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – the captain he sacked.
The former Gunners striker makes his first appearance at the Emirates since Arteta compiled a dossier of his timekeeping misdemeanours, stripped him of the armband and terminated his contract with a £7 million pay-off 16 months ago.
But as Aubameyang, 34 next month, returns to north London with struggling Chelsea, the Arsenal boss insists he deserves a warm reception.
Arteta said: “Let's say thank you, pay respect and gratitude for what he was. He was an incredible player for us, scored a lot of goals, he was our captain, and he deserves that.”
Asked if he would remember Auba for the way his four-year stint with the Gunners ended, or the goals which delivered his first trophy as Arsenal manager in the 2020 FA Cup final against Chelsea, Arteta replied: “Say thank you and be grateful.”
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The Gunners will return to the Premier League summit if they extend the Blues' winless run to nine games. And Arteta claims the title race is NOT over, warning leaders Manchester City : “We still have the nicest part of the season to play with five games to go.
"When I look at it, this is not over. We can still achieve the Premier League because there are five games to go and a lot of things are going to happen still. I'd pay a lot of money next season to be in this position, believe me.”
Mikel Arteta has asked Arsenal fans to remember the good times with axed former skipper Pierre-Emerick AubameyangArsenal will need to return to form without the presence of William Saliba, who is facing a race against time to play again this season. The French defender has missed the last six Premier League games - with the Gunners failing to keep a clean sheet in that time.
Arteta admitted that Saliba's injury hasn't really changed in the last week, ruling him out of the meeting with Chelsea. “Pretty similar,” he said of the centre-back's condition.
“He’s not going to be involved tomorrow [against Chelsea]. We have to work towards the next game and see where we are but he hasn’t improved this week at all.”
Pressed on how big of an impact his loss has been, Arteta added: “I don’t know how to quantify Gabriel Jesus out for four months, Eddie Nketiah for three months, Emile Smith Rowe for four and a half months, Kieran Tierney out for a few weeks, Tomiyasu out for three and a half months and now maybe six months. This is football.”