Former Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has set two new records for Barcelona as Mikel Arteta has been proved right for his development of William Saliba
Video Unavailable
Aston Villa v Arsenal: Pictures
Mikel Arteta’s plans for Arsenal’s big squad overhaul have been proven right after one of the club’s youngsters was called up to represent their national team.
William Saliba will join up with the France national team for the first time this week following an impressive spell out on loan at Ligue 1 side Marseille. And the call-up vindicates Arteta’s decision to let the centre-back spend this season out on loan.
It comes after ex-captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang set two records during Barcelona’s 4-0 thrashing of Real Madrid in Sunday night’s El Clasico. And the Gabon international has laughed off criticism from Gunners legend Paul Merson after his impressive outing at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Here are Mirror Football’s latest Arsenal headlines.
Join the debate! What did you think of Arsenal’s performance against Aston Villa? Let us know what you think here.
(
Image:
Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Aubameyang sets records
Former Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang set two new Barcelona records as his new club beat bitter rivals Real Madrid 4-0 in his first-ever El Clasico.
The striker moved to Barca on transfer deadline day as Gunners boss Mikel Arteta allowed him to leave the club on a free transfer. And Aubameyang has been in fine form ever since joining the Spanish giants, helping himself to seven goals in seven LaLiga games.
He was in an inspired mood once again on Sunday evening as he claimed two goals and one assist in Barcelona’s 4-0 win over Real Madrid, helping himself to a place on the history books in the process.
Merson left red-faced
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s impressive displays have left former Gunners ace Paul Merson red-faced.
The Barcelona forward’s latest impressive display against Real Madrid shows he can still be considered one of the most deadly strikers in the world – despite Merson’s previous assessment that he was “finished”. Merson made the claim after Aubameyang was stripped of the Arsenal captaincy and ostracised from Mikel Arteta’s squad following a disciplinary breach as he was left out of subsequent matchday squads and made to train alone.
And Aubameyang proved that revenge is a dish best served cold as his post on social media following the game showed he hadn’t forgotten Merson’s words.
Arteta proved right
While his treatment of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang may have split the Arsenal fan base, Mikel Arteta’s plan for William Saliba looks to have been proved right.
Saliba will join up with the senior France national side this week for the first time after continuing his development over the last few seasons in his native country. There was much excitement over the young centre-back when he arrived from Saint-Etienne in 2019 but he failed to break into the first-team set-up at the Emirates.
That led to loan spells back at his old club, before spending part of last season at Nice and then joining Marseille for this season. And the young player’s development plan has now been vindicated by his call-up to his national side.
Read More
Read More
