‘Does Toni Kroos have kids?’ – Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hits back at Real Madrid star over mask celebration criticism

Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has hit back at Toni Kroos after the Real Madrid midfielder criticised his famous mask celebration.

Kroos accused Aubameyang of being a poor role model for his ‘nonsense’ celebrations involving superhero masks during his time at Borussia Dortmund and now Arsenal.

Getty Images – Getty

Aubameyang wore a Black Panther mask when Arsenal played Rennes

Getty Images – Getty

Toni Kroos called the celebrations nonsense

“Aubameyang once celebrated and took out a mask. That’s where it ends with me. I don’t think that’s a good role model, either. What nonsense,” the German said on the Einfach mal Luppen podcast he hosts, as per Sport Bild.

Aubameyang was left dumbfounded by the criticism, taking to Twitter to reveal he was actually checking if the reported comments really came from Kroos.

And now, the Gabon international has launched a fierce response.

Sharing a drawing of himself done by a child at a junior school, Aubameyang tweeted: “By the way. Does this @ToniKroos have Kids?

“Just to remember i did it for my son few Times and i will do it again I wish you have Kids one day and make them happy like this Junior School pupils.

“And don’t Forget #maskon #staysafe.”

Aubameyang’s tweet ended with a clown emoji, seemingly in response to a video which emerged of Kroos failing to follow protocol and wear a mask while on Madrid duty.

Aubameyang’s reasons for wearing the masks have deeper meaning than just gimmicks.

He wore the Black Panther mask after scoring for Arsenal against Rennes in the Europa League last year.

He said post-match: “I needed a mask which represents me and that’s the Black Panther. In Gabon, we call the national team the Panthers.”

Aubameyang also paid tribute to the late actor, Chadwick Boseman, who played Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies with the ‘Wakanda Forever’ salute following his goal against Liverpool in the Community Shield.