Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has expressed what could well be construed as surprise at Arsene Wenger upping and leaving Arsenal so soon after signing the Gabon international.
The former Borussia Dortmund striker scored the only goal of Wenger’s farewell match, Sunday’s 0-1 away win against Huddersfield (his 10th strike in just 12 Premier League starts for the Gunners), before watching the man who signed him for £56million in January being waved off by both sets of fans at the John Smith’s Stadium.
However, Aubameyang has admitted that when he joined Arsenal he expected to play under Wenger “for years”, rather than just four months:
I thought he [Wenger] would be at Arsenal for years, but this is the life. This is football and sometimes you never know. I was happy to play for him.
I learned a lot. It was not a lot of time to work with him, but I learned a lot and I’m happy to be here.
Regardless, the 28-year-old poacher insists that he believes a brave new dawn lies in wait for Arsenal post-Le Boss:
Yes, of course [I’m excited about next season]. In the last few weeks we have played well.
We have a lot of young players and for sure it’s good for the (new) manager.
It looks good for the future and I’m sure next season is going to be a good one for us.
Hmmm. If we didn’t know better, we’d suggest that Aubameyang is hinting that he was sold a bit of a dummy before signing up for the long haul at Arsenal.
That said, maybe we’ve been doing this too long and we’re just being cynical for cynicism’s sake. It’s a distinct possibility.
What do you make of it the quote in question, Pies fans?