Agbonlahor criticises Aubameyang over advert before Arsenal game

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Gabby Agbonlahor has told talkSPORT that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang goading Arsenal in a BT Sport advert ahead of the Gunners’ clash at Chelsea this weekend was silly, and he may live to regret taking part.

Of course, Aubameyang facing his old club is one of the key sub-plots ahead of Sunday’s game. The striker left the Gunners at the start of the year. And he is now back in the Premier League after joining the Blues.

Aubameyang did not leave Arsenal on the best terms. He was frozen out by Mikel Arteta for some time before the decision was taken to cancel the remaining time on his contract.

Aubameyang criticised for Arsenal advert

So it will be fascinating to see how the Gabon international gets on against his old side. Unsurprisingly, it was Aubameyang who featured in the BT Sport advert to build the hype for the game.

As noted by talkSPORT, he notes that he is back and he is blue. He also claims that it is nothing personal.

In truth, you would imagine that the advert will be forgotten by the time the two teams take to the pitch. But Agbonlahor has suggested that Aubameyang has done his side no favours whatsoever with those comments.

“I am surprised and I feel like BT Sport will have been buzzing for getting him to say those words because it adds more spice to the game, more viewers of course,” he told talkSPORT.

“But very strange. I was thinking you don’t need to do that. I can imagine the media officer at Chelsea saying do you want to do this? And he’s probably said yeah. But it can go against you.

“I would never have done it, no. Because these things seem to work against you. Wouldn’t surprise me now if he came on and missed a sitter and Arsenal go and win. I think it’s a silly thing to do and he could regret that.”

Mikel Arteta famously used Ivan Toney’s tweet after Brentford beat Arsenal in his team talk before the two teams met again later in the season.

So perhaps he will be tempted to use Aubameyang’s comments. However, he will be wary of getting too involved with the narrative that Arsenal are facing Aubameyang.

Chelsea are a good side. Arsenal meanwhile, are the best in the country right now. The Gunners would be doing themselves no favours by focusing on one player.

If they play their game, they should win and remain the pace-setters in the Premier League. Dwelling on what Aubameyang said in an advert may not help their cause.