ARSENAL’S biggest departure of the summer has been announced in the form of AFTV mainstay Troopz.
While fans are sweating over Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s future, it is the club captain’s YouTuber pal who is leaving for pastures new.
In an emotional post to his own channel on Tuesday, Troopz revealed: “I don’t even know how to start this video, it’s quarter past three in the morning.
“I never thought I’d be doing this video but I’m leaving AFTV.
“Four years of amazing times, making some great content, meeting some great people along the way.
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“I’m moving to New York, without a date at the moment but it will be in the next few weeks, and I’m going to be doing the same kind of stuff.
“I’m gonna get a podcast, called Back Again With Troopz.”
Troopz leaves AFTV with the channel in a curious position among the Gooner fanbase.
Fans have chanted for the YouTube channel to be kicked out of the club and defender Hector Bellerin is also a critic.
Many blame the pioneering channel, which was one of the first of its kind when launched in 2012 by DJ Robbie Lyle, for creating a sense of kneejerk anger around the team.
Amassing a huge 1.23 million YouTube subscribers, many of its regulars have become stars in their own right.
However, this has not been without controversy amid claims that certain members of the cast, including Troopz, had become too close to the first-team.
Arsenal captain Aubameyang has been described as a pal of the pundit, leading to reports of a dressing room split.
And AFTV was forced to sack popular Claude Callegari after a racist remark directed at Tottenham star Son Heung-min during July’s derby.
Troopz has insisted that his departure was amicable.
He explained: “It’s the opportunity of a lifetime, I can’t turn this down.
“I don’t want people to think I’m selling out, I don’t want people to think there is beef between me and AFTV, me and Robbie.
“It’s none of that, if anything I want to big up Robbie because Robbie was the one who gave me this opportunity.”
He added: “I wish AFTV all the best and Robbie all the best in the future.”
Fans online showed their support for Troopz in his next venture.
One viewer wrote: “How is he gonna convince Auba to stay if he can’t stay himself.”
Luis added: “This is the equivalent of Thierry Henry leaving us for Barcelona.”
Twitter user Dean posted: “So wait all that agent Troopz work and you’re the one who ends up leaving, major plot twist! All the best mate enjoy NYC good luck with it.”
While Kurtis commented: “2020 just keeps giving more and more heartbreaking moments…”
