Mikel Arteta has urged to use Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s words in a BT Sport advert as motivation for his Arsenal players.
Aubameyang is set to take on his former employers for the first time since his infamous exit in January when Chelsea travel to the Emirates on Sunday.
The Gabon international left for Barcelona at the turn of the year having fallen out with Mikel Arteta, before moving to Chelsea in the summer.
Adding fuel to the fire ahead of his return, Aubameyang has said in a promo for BT Sport: “Arsenal, nothing personal,” before adding: “I’m back. I’m blue. I’m ready.”
And Gabriel Agbonlahor claims the Chelsea striker should have kept his mouth shut and reckons Arteta should be highlighting it ahead of the Premier League clash.
Agbonlahor told talkSPORT: “I am surprised and I reckon BT Sport will have been buzzing to get him to say those words because it adds more spice to the game and more viewers, of course.
“It’s very strange, I think. You don’t need to do that. I’d never have done that.
“These things seem to work against you. I wouldn’t be surprised if he came on and missed a sitter and then Arsenal go and win and you think, ‘Why did you have to do that?’.
“The respect he should have for Arsenal – yes, he fell out with Mikel Arteta, but the fans loved Aubameyang.
“So I think it’s a silly thing to do and he could regret that.”
“Arteta is probably saying to his defenders, Gabriel and William Saliba, ‘Watch that, he said he’s back and he’s going to have a good game against you, so forget about being friends with him, you stop him.’
“’If you have to kick him, kick him – do what you have to do to stop Aubameyang’.”
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Asked if he would have done it, Rangers legend Ally McCoist added: “No and being honest with you, if I’m his manager, his coach or his teammates, I’m not happy with it either.
“You know what it’s like, going into big games you just want to go under the radar a little bit.”
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