Chelsea head coach Graham Potter has detailed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s emotions ahead of his reunion with Arsenal in Sunday’s London derby. Arsenal visit Stamford Bridge for the crunch Premier League clash, where Aubameyang could face the Gunners for the first time since leaving in January.
There is plenty of intrigue surrounding the Gabonese striker after the boisterous manner in which his Arsenal career ended at the start of 2022. But, speaking ahead of the game, Potter urged the narrative to steer away from Aubameyang and focus more on the two clubs.
“It’s a London derby, two good teams, I think. Arsenal are doing really well, and the history makes it an interesting one for Auba. But the past is the past as we’re concerned. I don’t think we should make it about him. He is an important part of the team for us, but it takes everybody, not just one person,” Potter explained.
The Chelsea boss added that Aubameyang was ‘excited’ to play against his former club. He said: “I understand the interest around him because it’s Arsenal. I think he’s looking forward to the game, excited for it. He’s been pretty normal, I say, quite a quiet guy.”
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Last December, Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta stripped the 33-year-old of the club’s captaincy after breaching disciplinary codes. A month later, he terminated his £350,000-a-week Gunners contract and joined Barcelona on a free transfer, where he netted 13 goals in 23 appearances last season.
Aubameyang’s stint at the Nou Camp ended abruptly, though, as Thomas Tuchel targeted him after sanctioning Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner’s Chelsea exits in the summer. He completed his quickfire Premier League return by moving to Stamford Bridge in a deal worth £10m plus Marcos Alonso, signing a two-year contract.
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