Neville claims Arteta wants to sell ‘problem’ Arsenal player

Joe Williams
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta walks off the pitch

Gary Neville thinks Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta would sell Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to bring in another player if he could.

The Gunners threw away a 1-0 lead to lose 2-1 against Everton on Monday night with Demarai Gray scoring a dramatic late winner at Goodison Park.

After Martin Odegaard’s volley in first-half stoppage time put the visitors ahead, Richarlison – having had two efforts ruled out for offside via VAR checks either side of the opener – drew things level with a 79th-minute header, on the follow up after Gray hit the bar.

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Gray then secured the Toffees’ first win in nine Premier League outings by sending a fine strike in off the post in the second minute of time added on at the end.

In search of a winner, Arsenal boss Arteta threw on Eddie Nketiah on 71 minutes with Aubameyang – who did eventually enter the field in the 85th minute – left on the substitute’s bench.

And Neville predicts there will be a “problem” with Aubameyang with the Gabon international unlikely to take kindly to being left on the bench for most of the match.

“I think there will be a problem with Aubameyang off the back of this game,” Neville said on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football.

“I don’t think he’ll like the idea of Nketiah coming on. I don’t think he’ll like the idea of being a sub full-stop.”


When asked if there was something brewing between Arteta and Aubameyang, Neville added: “Yeah it is going to. There’s always that little bit of a bug there between Arteta and Aubameyang.

“I know he’s the captain, but he leaves him out and it just feels like it’s something a little bit awkward and it’s going to cause a problem.

“I suspect if Arteta could probably get money for him and get someone else they probably would.

“And I bet if Aubameyang could move on he probably would as well. It maybe could just turn a little bit sour.”

Aubameyang missed an excellent chance late on for Arsenal and Neville was critical of his technique, the former Man Utd right-back continued: “When this chance comes to him – he makes a good move then moves outside – it’s one of them that’s hard to play as a side foot across to that far corner.

“You almost want to go with your left foot and guide it, bend it past Pickford into the far corner. It’s a little bit awkward, a little bit unnatural in terms of how he’s tried to finish it.

“It’s not for me to tell him how to finish, but it was really difficult to hit that one with his side foot across the goalkeeper as it’s not coming back for you.”

 

Arsenal Gary Neville

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