Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is reportedly one of many players ‘desperate’ to leave the club, with half the dressing room understood to be eying the Emirates Stadium exit.
Former Gunner Mikel Arteta—currently assistant coach to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City—is on the verge of his appointment as Arsenal manager, but the Independent’s Miguel Delaney wrote one of his chief priorities in north London could be an overhaul of the squad.
Arsenal have won a single game in their last 12 matches—one of the worst runs witnessed at the club in modern times—and it’s said Aubameyang is one major name hoping for a departure.
The 30-year-old was anointed captain by Unai Emery shortly before the Spaniard was sacked by the club in late November, with Granit Xhaka having been stripped of the armband shortly prior to that.
Results haven’t improved much under caretaker manager Freddie Ljungberg, another club icon who’s been assisted by fellow ex-Arsenal veteran, Per Mertesacker. The Swede has one win in five matches (two draws, two defeats) and doesn’t look likely to get the permanent gig.
Former captain Xhaka, 27, and striker Alexandre Lacazette are also reportedly looking to leave the Emirates following the dip in form, with some seemingly in doubt regarding their title prospects in north London.
Ljungberg at least oversaw the finishing touches as Arsenal won their Europa League group, and they’ll face Olympiakos in the competition’s round of 32, beginning on February 20, 2020.
Aubameyang joined the Gunners from Borussia Dortmund in January 2018 for a then-club-record £56 million ($79.2 million), but fans at the Emirates may not be encouraged by talk of an exit.
