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Football London
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Bobby Vincent

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang finally arrives at Barcelona as Arsenal's transfer 'gift' revealed

Sergio Busquets has described Barcelona completing the signing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on a free transfer as a "gift".

Aubameyang left Arsenal at the start of the month, with the Gunners releasing him from his contract, despite there still being 18 months left to run on it.

The 32-year-old striker fell out with Mikel Arteta after another discipline issue saw the Arsenal manager strip the forward of the captain's armband at the club.

After the incident, Aubameyang did not play again for the Gunners and he ended his nightmare at the Emirates Stadium and signed for Barcelona.

The Gabonese striker scored his first goals for his new club on Sunday afternoon as Barcelona beat Valencia 4-1 away from home.

The former Arsenal man opened the scoring on 23 minutes and then doubled his tally around a quarter of an hour later.

And, despite some doubt, he was awarded his first Barca hat-trick after the game, after his side's fourth goal of the match was awarded to him.

After the match, Busquets opened up on the club's business and is delighted that they managed to pick him up on a free transfer.

He said to Movistar, via Goal: "He is working really well, he came here needing minutes but he is getting them now. I hope he helps us like this because he is a great player and having him in the squad on a free transfer is a gift."

Arteta and Aubameyang fallout

As mentioned earlier, Arteta and Aubameyang did not see eye to eye in the end and that is how the striker's future was decided.

Mikel Arteta and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images)

Aubameyang, when speaking after being confirmed as a Barcelona player, revealed that Arteta was the only problem.

He said this earlier in the month: "It has been a difficult [two] months. Sometimes football can be like that. If I had to say something on my behalf, I would say I never wanted to do anything wrong.

"But now I have to put it behind me because it's in the past. I think the problem was just with [Arteta] and [he took] the decision [he took]. I cannot say too much. He was not happy. I stayed calm and that is it."

Arteta responded to those comments and insisted he was the "solution" and not the problem.

He said: "I am extremely grateful for what Auba has done at the club, for his contribution since I have been here. The way I see myself in that relationship is the solution, not the problem.

"What I’m saying is that I've been the solution, 100%. I can look in the eye of anybody."

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