Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka has paid a classy tribute to departing forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The Gabon international has just left the Emirates Stadium for a free transfer to La Liga giants Barcelona, following a spell out of Mikel Arteta’s side.
Things certainly didn’t end too well for Aubameyang at Arsenal, but it’s clear that Saka thought very highly of the 32-year-old, posting pictures of them together in the tweet below, and describing his old team-mate as a “legend”…
Thank you for everything @auba
Legend ? pic.twitter.com/zYKhltB5f0— Bukayo Saka (@BukayoSaka87) February 3, 2022
Aubameyang had some big moments in an Arsenal shirt, though there’s no doubt his form dipped quite considerably towards the end of his time in north London.
It will be interesting to see how he gets on at Barcelona, but it’s easy to imagine there’ll be some Gooners already feeling a tad anxious about whether or not his departure was really the best idea.
Claiming Aubameyang’s form dipped at the end is untrue. He had injuries last season and this season he scored 7 goals from 15 appearances in limited minutes in all competitions. That is not a dip in form, it is pundit-fueled team propaganda; with a goal of winning the P.R. war with their former star. That people seem to believe the spin does not, in any meaningful way, make it true.
It is odd how Arsenal keep winning the war of words, but losing the war in the league, with Ozil out and the pundits universally celebrating his departure and so many fans glad to see the back of him when the team finished 8th twice with him benched or left out entirely.
So many quality players gone for nothing or next to nothing, with huge money spent on replacements, and worse performances the result. Now Auba gone, with no Arsenal wins in the team’s last fives games, and one goal scored with pundits and fans celebrating his departure.
Pundits and fans are entirely willing to hold players ‘accountable’ for things they cannot control, like how often, when, and where they play; but do not hold the club and (especially) the manager accountable for the worst two performances in the last 50 years.
Does anyone really believe that, given the money Emery and Arteta got to spend on new players (and not having to balance the books with sales), Arsene Wenger would have finished 8th twice, with a third similar performance looking likely?