The dramatic moment Mikel Arteta told the Arsenal squad he had stripped Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of the captaincy can be revealed for the first time. The Gabon international was banished from the Gunners first team and made to train on his own in December after returning late from an authorised trip abroad.
Ahead of the Gunners' 3-0 win over Southampton on December 11, Arteta told the media Aubameyang had been left out of the squad due to a "disciplinary breach". Behind the scenes, the relationship between manager and player was strained and after conversations with technical director Edu, Arteta stripped the former Borussia Dortmund striker of the captaincy.
This decision was taken just 24 hours prior to Arsenal's Premier League match against West Ham United on December 15. With the Amazon cameras documenting everything that goes on at London Colney and Emirates Stadium as part of the Arsenal: All or Nothing documentary, the moment Arteta told the Arsenal squad of his decision was captured on camera.
READ MORE: Why Aaron Ramsdale was fuming with Arsenal teammates despite win in All or Nothing documentary
In episode four of the highly-anticipated documentary, which airs on Thursday, August 11, Arteta can be seen holding a team meeting to give the players clarity on the situation. With players and members of the Arsenal coaching staff watching on, the Spaniard spoke defiantly.
"Okay I have to announce you something," Arteta said. "Following the last disciplinary issue that we had with Auba, and the consequences that I decided to take to not involve him in the game, I thought carefully myself and the club what was the next step. And we have decided as a club that he is no longer our captain.
"So you should know that. The other decision is that for now he is not involved in the squad. I will make decisions further along the line. We keep going as we are as a group right now and we have to set ourselves even bigger aims and bigger standards.
"The club and myself we are not going to accept any behaviour like this. And what we are building goes completely against any behaviour like that. So we have to have any meaning to change in our culture and making sure that we become a different club and team we have to stand to those words clearly in every actions with anybody. And this is the message I have to send you.
"I don't like the timing but I had to clear that up with you guys. Now please focus on the game tomorrow. Okay, thank you."
During the speech the Amazon cameras focus on a number of the players, with Martin Odegaard, Kieran Tierney, Aaron Ramsdale, Emile Smith Rowe, Gabriel Magalhaes, Ben White and Nuno Tavares among the stars listening intensively to Arteta. Immediately after the speech, the Spaniard leaves the room and the players stand up, and are told to get ready for a day of training.
Of course, we now know that Aubameyang left Arsenal by mutual consent in February, with the now 33-year-old eventually making the move to Barcelona.
You can watch episodes 4 - 6 of Arsenal: All or Nothing exclusively on Amazon Prime Video from this Thursday, August 11.
READ NEXT:
Arsenal's next six fixtures compared to Tottenham, Chelsea, Manchester United
Arsenal news and transfers LIVE: All the latest updates and rumours from the Emirates Stadium
Full Arsenal Premier League fixture list for 2022/23
Big Arsenal Forum: Answer the call as we ask fans 7 key questions
Arsenal eclipse Manchester United into transfer delight as Frenkie de Jong deal crumbles
