Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has hit back at Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos for criticizing his choice of celebration.
The German international recently insisted that Aubameyang was not a good role model because he put on a mask – inspired by the film Black Panther – after scoring against Rennes in the Europa League in March 2019.
Aubameyang previously worked in this department and during his time at Borussia Dortmund pulled out various masks to celebrate goals.
Kroos, speaking on the Einfach mal Luppen podcast via Sports picture, commented: “Aubameyang celebrated once and took out a mask. That’s where it ends for me.
“I don’t think that’s a good role model either. What nonsense.”
Aubameyang was initially reluctant to react to Kroos but then targeted the World Cup winner.
Sunday, November 22nd, 4:00 p.m.
Start at 4:30 p.m.
The Arsenal captain quoted a picture of himself on Twitter in his response to the midfielder, drawn by a student who was asked to create a picture based on luck.
Aubameyang said, “By the way. Does this @ToniKroos have kids? Just to remind me that I did it a couple of times for my son and I’ll do it again.”
“I wish you had kids one day and make them happy like those junior school students. Say and don’t forget #maskon #staysafe.”
How does Arteta’s style affect Aubameyang?
Aubameyang have only scored two Premier League goals this season and failed to score in Arsenal’s 3-0 loss to Aston Villa on Sunday night.
Here, the Pitch to Post Review podcast panel explains how Mikel Arteta affected the striker.
Merse: Something has to change
Paul Merson from Sky Sports:
“People ask, how will Arsenal bring Aubameyang into the game? If he doesn’t score, I don’t see what he brings to the party right now.
“When Aubameyang is on the wing he can walk for 15 minutes without touching the ball. You can’t let your star player walk that long without touching the ball. How many goals would Jamie Vardy score if you left him on the left Side would play. ” Wing? Not as many as he’s getting now, that’s for sure.
“How many moments in a game are the center-backs petrified by the runs he makes because of his pace? Not as many as Vardy. If Vardy is thrown far out, he won’t score you 25 goals a season.
“The defense is starting to train him. They are starting to take away the threat from the outside and make life difficult for him. They stop the cut inwards and shoot into the farthest corner. Something has to change.
“I think they are missing a trick because I would have put Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette in the middle with Mesut Ozil in a free role because Thomas Partey is now in midfield. But that obviously cannot happen now because Ozil is not in the squad.
“I’ve played on the wing for most of my career. When you’re out there, you either have so much ball that you can’t breathe or you can’t touch the ball, period. There’s one thing or another in between it’s nothing. At the moment he doesn’t see enough of the ball where it matters. “
