Arsenal stars BACK Mikel Arteta’s decision to axe captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from derby clash

Arsenal players back Mikel Arteta’s shock decision to axe Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from the north London derby after the captain arrived late for duty.

Sources claim Aubameyang was furious with his manager’s decision to remove him from the starting XI just hours before the clash against Tottenham was due to kick-off.

Nevertheless, it is understood influential members of the Gunners squad believe Arteta made the correct decision in choosing to put their club skipper on the substitute’s bench for his misdemeanour.

Aubameyang was caught in traffic as he made his way to to the clash against Tottenham – and Arteta deemed his late arrival as unacceptable.

The club’s top-earner, however, did not take kindly to the embarrassment of being dropped just moments before the clash and is said to have been livid.

As a result, the striker did not take part in the post-match warm-down with his fellow substitutes, was one of the first players to leave the Emirates after his commitment was publicly thrown into question by Arteta.

But Sportsmail understands that Arteta wanted to make a public stand, partly as a message to his squad, that no on player is bigger than the squad.

There have been concerns within the club regarding Aubameyang’s discipline.

His time-keeping has been a problem at times this season, while recently the club were forced to look into claims he broke lockdown regulations in order to get a new tattoo.

Aubameyang has not been the only player to disrupt Arteta’s match-day preparations this season.

Towards the end of last year one player, after completing a full training session earlier in the day, was told he had to report for duty to take his place as a substitute after a colleague told Arteta he couldn’t play due to private matter just hours before kick off.

But Arteta has emphatically moved to lay down the law to his players.