Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reacts to Arsenal failing to qualify for Champions League and makes next season prediction
PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG was left “sad” when former club Arsenal fell short in their bid to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
The former Gunners skipper jetted to Monaco to watch this weekend’s F1 Grand Prix.
Aubameyang, 32, had his Arsenal contract ripped up earlier this year before he signed for Barcelona in January.
Mikel Arteta did not replace the forward and was made to pay for it in the second half of the campaign.
Two defeats in their final three games of the season meant the Gunners failed to qualify for Europe’s elite competition.
Speaking to Sky Sports in Monaco, Aubameyang was quizzed on his thoughts after his old side were pipped to fourth-spot by arch-rivals Tottenham.
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He said: “Yeah [it was] really close and I think they did a lot of improvement.
“And I’m a bit sad because I wanted to catch them on the Champions League.”
“I have a lot of friends over there.
“But I’m wishing them all the best for next season obviously.”
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A fifth-placed finish ensured Arsenal’s return to the Europa League after playing this season without any European football – the first time that’s happened since the 1994-95 campaign.
It’s not quite the same as the Champions League, but Aubameyang believes a return to Europe’s second-tier competition is a “good thing”.
And he wants his old team-mates to go all the way.
Aubameyang concluded: “I think it’s going to be a good thing to get back to the Europa League for them and I hope they can win it.”