Piers Morgan launched a scathing attack on Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta in the wake of news that Gunners star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been stripped of his role as club captain.
The Gabon international has fallen foul of his manager's infamous non-negotiables, losing the armband as a result after returning later than originally agreed from a trip to France last week.
It was first confirmed that there had been some form of dispute between captain and manager during Arteta's pre-match comments before Saturday's home clash against Southampton.
“ It was a disciplinary breach and that’s why he was out of the squad," the Spaniard explained. “I am not going to say anything else. I am going to focus on the performance and what the team did on the pitch."
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Three days later the captaincy had been officially stripped from the 32-year-old, announced via a short club statement that read: "Following his latest disciplinary breach last week, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will no longer be our club captain, and will not be considered for selection for Wednesday's match against West Ham United.
"We expect all our players, particularly our captain, to work to the rules and standards we have all set and agreed. We are fully focused on tomorrow’s match."
The news has quickly divided the Arsenal fanbase, though Morgan, famously a Gunners fan, has wasted no time in letting his social media following know who his support lies with.
Taking to twitter, Morgan referenced Arteta's previous role at Manchester City working under Pep Guardiola, writing: "What a jumped-up Pep-light pipsqueak.
"No proper manager would publicly humiliate one of his best players like this - especially when his own performance as manager has been so thoroughly unimpressive."
Arteta himself has broken his silence on the matter, though the Spaniard kept his cards relatively close to his chest when facing questions on the matter from reporters as part of his pre-match media duties.
"I don't have much more to say," the Gunners boss told the press. "It's a really clear statement from the club.
"It's a decision we have made following the last incident with the player. This is where we stand."
The timeline of Aubameyang's in-house suspension remains unclear, Arteta refusing to clarify if and when the Gabon international could return to the first-team fold.
"We need a bit of time. It needs a bit of time to heal. For now he's not involved in the squad.
"Obviously, it is a really unpleasant situation and it is not the moment to make any rash decision."
There has been no update on who will inherit the armband from Aubameyang, though Arsenal do boast a 'leadership group' that Arteta is likely to choose from.
