Mikel Arteta aims subtle dig at Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as Arsenal boss bites back

Mikel Arteta has aimed a subtle dig at Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang following his exit from Arsenal.

The Gabon international joined Barcelona on deadline day in what was a bitter end to an impressive four-year spell at the Emirates.

Arteta and Aubameyang's dispute was made public after he was stripped of the captaincy in early December following a disciplinary breach as he arrived back late from a sanctioned trip to France.

The 32-year-old was banished from the first team and would not play another game for the Gunners as he sealed a switch to the Nou Camp.

Aubameyang hinted that it was a problem with Arteta that forced him out of the club as he was unveiled in Catalonia on Thursday.

"A difficult few months. I've never wanted to do anything wrong, it's in the past," said Aubameyang.

When asked if he had a problem with the Gunners boss, he added: "Yeah, I think it was just with him. I can't say much, he wasn't happy, I stayed calm and that's it."

And now Arteta has responded to those remarks speaking for the first time since Aubameyang's departure.

The Spaniard was interviewed in Dubai at Arsenal's warm-weather training camp, saying one of the reasons they flew out to the UAE was to build the squad's "unity and spirit", hinting that Aubameyang's situation during the past few months has been an unwelcome distraction.

He told Arsenal's official website : "We had a break of two weeks and thought of the best way to maximise it, and felt the best way was to stay together for a week or so in a different environment, but with clear objectives for this week.

“Not only physically but mentally, it’s been a tough season and a tough few years. We wanted to take this opportunity to get a few things from it.

“The first thing,