Paul Merson insists that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta acted in the best interests of the club when he dropped Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for Sunday’s north London derby.
Gunners captain and star striker Aubameyang was surprisingly left out of the squad that won 2-1 against Spurs over the weekend.
Arteta revealed that the Gabon international was left out for a "breach of pre-match protocol".
And the Spaniard has been hailed by Arsenal legend Merson for sending a strong message to the club’s younger players that nobody is above the rules the manager sets out.
“Probably the biggest masterstroke of being a manager, and he is a new manager in the game, that is a massive thing what he’s done,” Merson told Sky Sports.
“What you’ve got to look at when you discipline the biggest star at the club, he thought with the future of the club.
“Fair play to Arteta, he’s got to have a look round at people like Smith-Rowe and Saka, who are going to be the future, and he’s got to send a message to them kids that whatever he’s [Aubameyang] done wasn’t right.
“If he didn’t do what he did, then those kids get crossed messages, and then they know that they can’t do that. That’s brilliant management.”
Arteta explained why felt it was so important to set high standards when it comes to conduct after the match.
He said: “For me they are the foundation and the platform that we can build something medium and long-term that is sustainable and that can bring us joy and happiness.
"Without that, I don't believe that it would happen. That's why I keep talking about it and acting about it. I made what I thought was the right decision and we draw a line there and now let's move on again.
"We know how important Auba is for us and for the club and that's it. It's been dealt with, now let's move on."
