Petit: Aubameyang "not himself"

Petit thought Arteta was right to kick Aubameyang out of Arsenal because he was "not himself".

The striker has not played for the Gunners in the past few months. After "violating discipline", he lost the favor of Arteta.

Aubameyang was quickly stripped of the captain's armband at Arsenal. They are eager to get him out of the club in January.

Barcelona was identified as his preferred destination, and the two clubs eventually reached an agreement on a permanent transfer.

Announced late Tuesday, Aubameyang had left Arsenal on a "consensual" basis.

Petit believes Arteta's decision will leave a "mark on the dressing room" at Arsenal:

"Mikel Arteta is perfectly in line with everyone's expectations of Aubameyang," Petit said (via the Daily Mail).

"I don't want to show disrespect for Aubameyang because I believe he's a great player. But, in the past few months, he hasn't become himself.

"His thinking has changed a bit. I don't know if it has anything to do with the club, the manager or his private lifestyle. But we don't see Aubameyang as we saw a few years ago.

"I believe Arteta was right about Aubameyang's decision. His choice has left its mark on the dressing room.

"Having your captain miss the game and then putting him in the transfer market is a very strong message for your dressing room."

Petit went on to suggest that Aubameyang was "not the same player" after signing a £350,000-a-week contract:

"As the club's highest earner, like Aubameyang, you have a rational approach to your team-mates and you need to prove that on the pitch.

"Aubameyang needs to understand that you have to show a high level every week and the fact that he signed a huge contract may have nothing to do with his current problems, but I would say the coincidence is huge.

"After he signed that contract, he wasn't the same player anymore.

"It doesn't matter if his future is at Arsenal or elsewhere, he needs to understand that he has to go back to that player with the same drive and mentality as he was. The money is big, but he must put his anger to rest! ”