‘I did it for my son’: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hits back at Toni Kroos over criticism of mask celebrations

Arsenal captain has sported Black Panther, Spider-Man and Batman masks after scoring goals in the past

(Getty Images)

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has hit back at Toni Kroos over the Real Madrid midfielder’s criticism of the Arsenal striker’s mask celebrations.

Aubameyang, who sported Spider-Man and Batman masks on various occasions while celebrating goals during his time with Borussia Dortmund, wore a Black Panther mask in tribute to the Marvel superhero as he celebrated netting against Rennes for Arsenal in the Europa League in March 2019.

And Kroos brought up the Gunners’ captain’s habit while speaking on his Einfach mal Luppen podcast.

“I find it really silly when players have rehearsed dances or choreography,” the Germany international said.

Read more: Arsenal coach Arteta insists he does not feel ‘disrespected’ by captain Aubameyang

“It’s even worse when there’s some kind of object hidden in their socks. 

“Aubameyang was celebrating this one time and took out a mask. That’s where I draw the line.”

Kroos, 30, added that he thought such behaviour was not reflective of a “good role model”, causing Aubameyang to speak out on social media.

The Gabon international wrote on Twitter: “Does this Toni Kroos have kids?

“Just to remember I did it for my son [a] few times and I will do it again.

“I wish you have kids one day and make them happy like this…”

Aubameyang’s tweet to Kroos, who is in fact a father, was also written as a positive response to a user who had shared a young school pupil’s drawing of the striker wearing a cape.

The student had apparently drawn the image when asked to create something that represented the word “happiness” to them.

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