The three month feud between Arsenal and former Captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is finally over, as the striker leaves the club via mutual consent, to move to Catalan giants, Barcelona.
❗️ NEW SIGNING!
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 2, 2022
▶ @Auba is blaugrana!
The move allows the Gunners to move on the former £56 million man, who unfortunately left with a shadowing cloud over his head. Despite the departure, Arsenal do still remain short up top, after missing out to Italian giants Juventus, in the fight for Dusan Vlahovic.
Aubameyang’s unfortunate downfall in London began in December, when the Gabon International was absent from several matchday squads, due to a ‘breach of discipline’. Things then got worse, as he was stripped of the Arsenal Captaincy shortly afterwards.
After this, it seemed only matter of time before the striker would see the exit door, as his first-team exile continued into the start of the Africa Cup of Nations, although Aubameyang would pick up COVID and then a niggle, and would not make an appearance in the tournament.
As January began, they’re had to be a solution, on Deadline Day, it’s alleged the player was in Spain on a ‘family retreat’ albeit in Barcelona. Talks began, and despite a late hiccup, Arsenal agreed to release him and let the Blaugrana get their man.
The 32-year-old has signed a deal till 2025 with a buyout clause of around £83 million.
Aubameyang may have left in disappointing fashion, but his record at Arsenal speaks for itself. Despite spending the majority of his Gunners career in the teams transitional period, he scored 92 goals in 162 appearances, including winning a Premier League Golden Boot in 2019.
In Mikel Arteta’s first season in charge, he would fire the team to an FA Cup title with goals in the Semi-Final and the Final.
In the end, Aubameyang moving on is the best result for both sides, but Arsenal fans won’t forget what a top finisher they witnessed in their shirt for five years.