When Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta stripped Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of his captaincy and axed him from the squad, many believed that would never have happed if Arsene Wenger was still in charge.
The legendary Frenchman was at the helm in North London for over two decades. He has dealt with almost everything behind the scenes over the years, including indiscipline, but things rarely ever came out in the media.
Arteta just does not tolerate indiscipline and he has shown he’s not afraid to make his feuds public. Mesut Ozil was the first one to face the axe and Matteo Guendouzi quickly followed him. Aubameyang’s the latest, and Wenger has just hinted that the Spaniard was right to do what he did.
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Arsene Wenger backs Arteta’s decision to axe ex-Arsenal star Aubameyang
Speaking about dealing with the indiscipline of star players as a manager, Wenger said, as quoted by The Mirror: “You have to treat him a little bit specially but without giving him too much power. He has to understand that there is a level you are not ready to compromise anymore.
“People are like that, when they are at the top level they want the power and at some stage, you have to fight against that.
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“I had in some moments of my career, I put my job on the line by leaving the best player out because he was too strong and too demanding.
“Then, you have to not compromise and put the interests of the club above that.”
The Insider’s View:
Arteta spent a lot of time with Wenger during his time at Arsenal as a player, and it looks like he has learnt a few things.
With both Ozil and Aubameyang, Arteta well and truly put his job on the line to leave them out. He did not compromise even when the world told him to, and he always put the club first.
There has been a lot of talk recently about how Arteta’s decision to axe Aubameyang is the reason why we finished outside the top four. We just don’t buy that as after the Gabon star was shown the door, Arsenal actually started playing well.
Arteta has followed Wenger’s blueprint and it’s clear now that he will not change – irrespective of who the player in question is.
