The good form of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at Barcelona is dividing the Arsenal fan base, with supporters split on whether the Gabonese forward should have been let go of.
The forward has scored seven goals in as many games since making the move to the La Liga in the January transfer window, showcasing to Gunners boss Mikel Arteta what he could have offered. The Gabonese striker was forced out of the Emirates Stadium earlier this year after his standards on and off the pitch slipped.
Arteta stripped Aubameyang of Arsenal captaincy following a disciplinary breach, and his performances were not justifying why he was the highest-paid player at the club. When Barca arrived and were willing to take the striker off of their hands, the Gunners jumped at the opportunity.
But following a brace in the El Clasico, many have been quick to question why Arteta was so quick to force Aubameyang out the door. But former Arsenal star told Lord Ping that the move remains a beneficial one for both parties, he explained: “Arsenal and Aubameyang won.
“Both of them have won for the future. Aubameyang has made a big impact in the dressing room in terms of mentality. He (Arteta) was ruthless.
“He (Aubameyang) was the captain and didn’t protect him. Put him on the bench. His behaviour was not good enough, his example was not good enough and mentality was not good enough and Arteta had no choice but to leave him.
“Aubameyang’s quality didn’t disappear in one day and when you sign for Barcelona, expectation is very high and he has to improve himself again as a player. Arsenal and Arteta won and so did Aubameyang so everyone is happy,”
But that viewpoint couldn't be further from the one that Gunners fan Piers Morgan holds. The journalist and TV personality has been incredibly vocal in his criticism of Arteta and the ‘absurd’ decision to let Aubameyang leave the club.
The forward’s brace in the El Clasico on Sunday night only added fuel to the fire and Morgan was quick to vent his frustration on Twitter, writing: “Another brilliant goal by Auba - this time in El Clasico. He's been the world's most lethal goal machine since joining Barcelona… and with every goal he scores, he makes Arteta look more absurd for giving him away.”
He then doubled down on the comments later on in the match, saying: “A manager's job is to manage great talent and get the best out of them, not drive them out of the club.” Before tweeting at full time: “I'm enjoying watching Auba work his magic for Barca, whilst remaining incredulous & furious that Arsenal gave away such a wonderful world-class striker. Trust the process, my a***.”
With Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah out of contract at the end of the season, the Gunners are expected to be in the market for a striker in the summer. They attempted to sign a direct replacement for Aubameyang before his departure in Dusan Vlahovic, but he opted to join Juventus from Fiorentina instead.
Everton ’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Benfica’s Darwin Nunez have both been linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium, though it remains to be seen who else Arteta is keeping tabs on. If the manager is able to sign a forward who can outperform Aubameyang then it would certainly silence critics like Morgan.
