Former Arsenal striker, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, recently sent a poignant message to the club on the four-year anniversary of their FA Cup triumph. This article delves into the significance of this message and its implications for current manager Mikel Arteta.
Aubameyang was instrumental in securing the FA Cup victory for Arsenal four years ago. The 35-year-old scored both goals in the final against Chelsea and also netted twice against Manchester City in the semi-final. These four strikes at Wembley were part of his impressive tally of 92 goals during his four-and-a-half-year spell with north London club.
Just a few months after their FA Cup win, Arsenal returned to England's national stadium and clinched another trophy by defeating Premier League champions Liverpool in the Community Shield final. With two pieces of silverware under their belt, it seemed that Arsenal was poised to build on this success with Aubameyang as their talisman.
Struggles post-Aubameyang era
However, things took a turn for worse when Arsenal struggled during the 2020/21 campaign and these difficulties persisted into next season. Eventually, Aubameyang saw his contract terminated by mutual consent in early 2022.
The Gabon international then signed with Barcelona shortly after an unauthorised visit to Catalan City while his former team travelled to Dubai for a warm-weather training camp. Following his exit from north London club, it became clear that there were issues between him and Arteta which led to his departure.
Despite leaving under such circumstances, Aubameyang’s love for Arsenal remains evident as he responded to Gunners' social media post celebrating their FA Cup victory on this day back in 2020 saying: "[red and white circle emoji] 4y already."
A brutal reminder for Arteta
While Aubameyang was merely reminiscing about a cherished moment in his Arsenal career, his message also serves as a stark reminder to Arteta. Since Aubameyang's departure, the Gunners have struggled to secure more silverware. Although they did win the Community Shield nearly 12 months ago, the north Londoners are undoubtedly yearning for the Premier League title or European glory.
Following another campaign where they pushed Manchester City all the way, Arsenal is aiming to go one better this time around. With strengthened defence due to addition of Riccardo Calafiori and return from long-term injury absence of Jurrien Timber, Arsenal is in an excellent position to finally end Man City's domestic dominance.
While Aubameyang’s heartfelt message brought back memories of past glories at Arsenal, it also served as a brutal reminder of what has been missing since his departure. As fans and sports betting enthusiasts watch closely, only time will tell if Mikel Arteta can steer the club back towards its former glory.
