Exactly when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang decided he wanted to leave Arsenal – he told one former teammate

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Former Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has lifted the lid on his career, including his feud with Mikel Arteta.

Aubameyang will go down as one of Arsenal’s best January signings, arriving in 2018 from Borussia Dortmund.

Arsene Wenger fulfilled the wishes of Arsenal fans by welcoming a renowned striker to the Emirates and quickly, it became clear that Aubameyang was the perfect match.

Unfortunately for the Gunners and the striker, things quickly turned sour in the 2021/22 season, as a falling out with Arteta led to the end of Aubameyang’s adventure in north London.

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When Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang decided to leave Arsenal 

Aubameyang said he’d never apologise to Arteta for the reasons behind his disciplinary, as he was visiting his unwell mother overseas.

The Arsenal manager immediately removed Aubameyang from his plans and the rest is history, as the forward left in 2022 to join Barcelona.

Aubamyeang inspired many inside the Arsenal squad and was well-loved at the club, being an adored figure amongst fans but, once his mind was made up, there was no turning back.

Speaking to The Athletic, the former Gunner revealed exactly when he realised he wanted to leave Arsenal, recalling a conversation he had with Alexandre Lacazette in July 2020. 

“I was talking on the bus with Alexandre Lacazette, every fan was saying, ‘Sign da ting!’. Laca asked me, ‘What are you going to do?’ I was like, ‘To tell you the truth, I really don’t know’.

“If I’m being honest, at that time I wanted to go, for me, it was time to find a new challenge. I did my time. It was very nice, but I needed to change.”

The now 35-year-old went on to admit that he needed to leave Arsenal to avoid something going ‘wrong’.

“It had been four years, I did great and maybe it was time to leave it like this, proper and clean, so people remember me as a good Arsenal player. I felt I needed to go because if I stayed, something would go wrong.”

Aubameyang’s record at Arsenal 

Aubameyang’s four years at Arsenal will forever be remembered for the good and the bad but regarding what the forward did on the pitch, only positive memories should remain.

The Gabon international was what the Gunners had desired for years, a lethal goalscorer who was charismatic, animated and a clinical breath of fresh air leading the line.

Aubameyang captained Arsenal to the FA Cup, making a total of 163 appearances in all competitions, scoring 92 goals, just eight shy of a century.

It’s a dire shame how things ended for the talisman at the Emirates, going from hero to zero in a damning fashion.