Mikel Arteta compiled a dossier of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s misdemeanours before banishing the striker from his first-team squad — defying pressure from senior figures at Arsenal to keep him in the fold.
The Arsenal manager made detailed notes about the incidents, including times and dates, building up evidence before dropping Aubameyang and stripping him of the captaincy for multiple disciplinary breaches in December last year.
Arteta did not relent, despite the likes of Edu, Arsenal’s technical director, urging him to give Aubameyang another chance, and the club terminated his contract, worth £350,000 a week, by paying him about £7 million before he joined Barcelona as a free agent in February. Arsenal were left with one fewer senior striker and went on to finish outside the Champions
