Ex-Arsenal defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos said Mikel Arteta’s spat with former captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang “could have been resolved differently”.
Arteta and Aubameyang endured a very public falling out which saw the Gunners’ boss strip the Gabonian hitman of the club captaincy. The Spaniard cited the striker’s ill-discipline as the reason informing his ruthless decision to confine the striker to the sidelines.
Their time together came to an untidy end as the former Borussia Dortmund ace’s contract was terminated so he could be offloaded to Barcelona in the January transfer window. And amid Aubameyang’s sensational start to life under Xavi which has seen him fire ten goals in his first 14 appearances, Sokratis believes there could have been another way to resolve their qualms.
“Aubameyang is not the only one who left this way from Arsenal,” Sokratis said to the Sun. “Other players also left like that; including myself. “That was the team’s choice, each footballer works for the team and has to respect that choice. I don’t know; personally I don’t think it was the correct choice, the matter could have been resolved differently.
“I’ve known Aubameyang for many years, I know what he can do as a footballer. I am certain of what he will do at Barcelona. I wish him good luck and all the best. The same goes for Arsenal despite the way I also left. I wish them well.”
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Similarly to Aubameyang, Sokratis departed the club in the 2021 January transfer window in uncomfortable fashion. His deal was terminated six months early by the club, so he could be swiftly moved on to Greek side Olympiacos.
This decision took place three years after the north Londoners signed him from Borussia Dortmund. Then manager Unai Emery made him one of his most important targets, before eventually sealing his services for around £17.7m.
The Greek international made 69 appearances for the club between 2018 and 2020, winning the FA Cup and reaching the Europa League final during his time in north London. But the central defender’s first team opportunities became squeezed after Arteta replaced the sacked Emery.
A series of injuries and inconsistent form also did not help Sokratis’ chances at the Emirates. While he remained at the club after the summer transfer window in 2020, the writing was on the wall for Greek when he did not make a single appearance for the club.
The arrival of defenders such as Gabriel Magalhaes and Pablo Mari consigned him to a permanent place in the Gunners’ wilderness, before Olympiacos freed him from his Emirates misery. But nearly 18 months after his unpleasant exit, Sokratis stated he does not hold any firm resentment towards the club.
“[The way I left] was not the best, I was left out of the team,” the 33-year-old added. “But it’s a matter I haven’t spoken about yet, I respected the manager’s choice. I spoke with him. I am a professional, I worked for the club and love the club. I will definitely continue to be a friend and fan just like I am for all the other clubs I played for, such as Dortmund and [AC] Milan.”
