Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: Barcelona agree to a deal to sign the Arsenal striker | Transportation Center News

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Barcelona have agreed a permanent deal to sign Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on a free transfer

Arsenal were willing to allow Aubameyang – who is said to earn £350,000 a week – to leave after he was stripped of the captaincy in December following an unspecified disciplinary case.

It is estimated that Arsenal will save around £25m in wages with Aubameyang’s departure. But his exit means Mikel Arteta’s side will finish the season with two recognized strikers at the club, with both Eddie Nketea and Alex Lacazette’s contracts expiring in the summer.

Aubameyang has not played for the club since December 6, and was left out of his squad for their warm-weather training camp in Dubai.

The 32-year-old’s move to Spain appeared earlier on deadline day after talks over the financial part of the deal broke down.

But it is understood that Aubameyang, who traveled to Barcelona on Monday morning, made a significant wage cut to facilitate the move.

Analysis: Aubameyang has lost his way

Adam Batty from Sky Sports:

The drop in performances was so significant that it is perhaps worth reminding people that Aubameyang was a world-class striker for most of his time at Arsenal.

Indeed, from the day of his debut for the club in February 2018 until the day of the double against Everton in February 2020, no player has scored more Premier League goals. He scored 49 goals in that period, like Mohamed Salah and dozens of goals more than Harry Kane.

Photo: Aubameyang has seven goals for Arsenal this season, but none since October

There was a notable event then when he scored twice in Arsenal’s FA Cup Final win over Chelsea in the summer of 2020. But once his new contract was signed in September, there was a sense of decline for the player’s best days behind him.

After being stripped of leadership, the leadership often had to come from somewhere else. Young players leading Arsenal under Mikel Arteta, not their best paid player. This is the situation the club knows well after going through, similar to Mesut Ozil. can not last.

At 32, there will be hope that Aubameyang will be able to regain his best form, inspired by the new environment and the challenge of returning Barcelona to its former glory. At Arsenal, any regrets will mitigate the feeling that it is time for the club to move on.

Merson: Arsenal need a striker

Paul Merson told Sky Sports:

“If Alexandre Lacazette puts the open-goal opportunity away in front of Burnley, the job is done and no one is ever groaning.

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Watch: The highlights of the goalless draw between Arsenal and Burnley in the English Premier League

“Everyone will talk about how good a clean sheet Arsenal could have been. It’s 1-0 for Arsenal and everything is great. But he missed an open goal and suddenly, they only scored one goal in January, which came in their best performance by a mile.

“That’s the problem Arsenal have. You won’t win much without the heart of an attacking player.

“I know people will say Manchester City do it, but they still have to win the Champions League by playing a false nine. They also have stars all over the field and are probably the only team in the world that can do that.

“So, Arsenal need an attacking position.”

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