Freddie Ljungberg's Arsenal claim proven right amid Martin Keown's Mikel Arteta criticism

Arsenal legend Martin Keown has urged head coach Mikel Arteta to stop falling out with his players following Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's departure from the club.

Aubameyang was stripped of his captaincy duties back in December before revealed over the festive period that the Gunners were open to selling the once-prolific striker.

Eventually, the Gabon international joined the Blaugrana, becoming the third high-profile player to clash with Arteta, along with Matteo Guendouzi and Mesut Ozil, with the former currently on loan at Marseille whilst the latter left for Fenerbahce just over 12 months ago.

Now, Keown has criticised the former Manchester City assistant coach for his hardline approach, telling him that he has to find a way to stop clashing with his own players.

Speaking on talkSPORT’s, the former Arsenal defender said: "What I wanted was for him [Arteta] to continue to get the best from a player, that’s the role of a manager isn’t it, win games and get the best from players?

"Is this decision in the best interest of Arsenal football club? That’s all I’m looking at. There is no replacement that has come in for the striker. Arsenal are in a fight for fourth place and have an opportunity to do that.

"What I don’t want also is the manager to get a reputation for falling out with players. I don’t know if another high profile manager has fallen out with so many players.

"Maybe it was easy to fall out with [Mesut] Ozil, people are saying I’m picking on him, but [Matteo] Guendouzi has since gone on and done quite well, he’s got into the French national team.

"There have been one or two fallouts, and he may feel like he’s eradicating a culture that was allowed to grow under Arsene Wenger, and I understand that.

"But at