EPL: ‘That’s crazy’ – Agbonlahor slams Mikel Arteta over Aubameyang

Aston Villa legend, Gabriel Agbonlahor has slammed Mikel Arteta’s decision to banish Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from first-team training, describing it as a ‘massive overkill.’

Agbonlahor feels the former Manchester City assistant coach’s treatment of the Arsenal striker is too harsh.

Aubameyang was stripped of the club’s captaincy earlier this month after being accused of a ‘disciplinary breach.’

The manager has also stopped selecting the Gabon international for matches, reportedly ordering him to train away from the first team.

“Arteta has done well as a manager but I think his treatment of players can be a bit too wild for me,” Agbonlahor told Football Insider.

“For the offence, Aubameyang has committed I think he’s been overly punished. It’s been overkill. You’d think he’d committed a massive crime.

“Stripped of the captaincy might have been overkill but you understand it. Get someone else in there who is always going to obey the rules and not do anything wrong.

“Aubameyang was never a captain for me, he’s not captain material. No problems with that.

“Miss a game, ok. It’s a bit harsh but you’re ok with that.

“But then you banish him to train on his own is massive overkill. That’s crazy. It’s like Arteta’s on a power trip. They’ve been winning games so he’s thought ‘Ok, I’m just going to keep him out.

“It’s too much, to be honest. If he’d been caught having a covid party with 100 people enjoying life, partying and drinking, that’s different, I’d understand. He’s gone to get his mum, for goodness sake, give the guy a break.”