EPL: Alan Shearer hails Arsenal boss for disciplining Aubameyang, hints on reasons

Premier League legend, Alan Shearer has said Mikel Arteta dealt with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang the way he did in order to send a clear message to the younger players.

The former England striker praised Arteta, describing his decision to strip Aubameyang of the club’s captaincy and banish him from the main team as a ‘brave’ call.

Arteta recently removed the captain armband from the Gabon international after he was accused of a disciplinary breach and the striker has not featured in Arsenal’s last five matches.

“It was a big, brave decision from Arteta to do what he did because with the personality, who Aubameyang was with the captaincy on him, the salary that he’s on,” Shearer said on BBC’s Match of the Day.

“But he has to show discipline because he’s got a young team who he is trying to send a message to. They now know that they can’t mess around, they can’t be late for training or whatever the situation is.

“And the players agree with the decision that Arteta’s made because you can tell in their performances.

“Arteta needed his players to back him up in terms of giving his the goals and the performances, and they’ve done that in style.”