jones wrote:
Again, I'm not overlooking Auba's indiscretions I literally said he's not easy to handle. But the onus is on the manager to be able to handle his players without alienating and selling everyone, and if you do have to sell guys who are both very good and difficult you better have something to show for it. Guardiola was notorious for being unable to handle big egos like Eto'o, Ibrahimovic, Ronaldinho etc, he did get rid of them but he also got guys like Xavi Iniesta Busquets playing at a level where it didn't matter.
Regardless of what you think of Auba, selling anyone under the current regime would be a dumb idea. Auba was difficult at Dortmund because he got into trouble with the brass there but became a model pro for his first few years here, who's to say he's not feeling the same as we are and is just not interested in working with Arteta any longer? There's no reason to persist with Arteta on account of what he's done in his two years here, there's more than enough to do the same with Auba.
You also said if you were Auba you'd knock Arteta's teeth out. It's clear where you're laying the blame, and for all the criticism of Arteta's handling, there isn't much for Aubameyang's disregard of the rules.
Again, I agree with the criticism of Arteta, the onus is on him to manage the situation. But it should also be on Aubameyang to not create these situations which need manage. Arteta failing to manage them is only part of the equation.
The bolded section is what gets me. We're supporters. We follow the team regardless and will continue to do so, but Aubameyang is paid over £300,000 per week to turn up and do his job. I don't have the luxury of fucking off to France and not returning when I should, and wouldn't be excused for lacklustre work performance because I don't like my manager. You turn up, you do your job, and you get on with it. He's failing to do the bare minimum. One of the worst aspects of the prima donna age of football is not the obscene money involved, it's that it's acceptable to fans that players down tools simply because we have the same feelings towards the manager.
I agree that if we're to get anything out of the season we'll likely need Aubameyang performing well. But I don't think he's got much to offer us going forward. His star is waning, he's absent when the team need leadership, he's creating needless disciplinary issues (that Arteta is exacerbating) and his carefree attitude is at odds with the serious and switched on nature of the recent squad additions. He also doesn't suit our current set up but that's a separate issue which could be addressed with different management.
Gazza M wrote:
stripped of the captaincy and not in the squad for West ham, per multiple sources. I'd try to move him on tbh, not because I don't like him, but I just don't see much for him at arsenal, and I don't want to be an ozil style financial millstone
Agreed. This is what happens when we offer big money to players who hold all the cards in contract negotiations. It's clear it doesn't work out when we're held to ransom by players who feel they're level is above ours. I also question whether it's worth going after these star signings that we see as coups.
