"Furious" Piers Morgan picks his side in Mikel Arteta vs Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang dispute

Arsenal fan Piers Morgan has blasted the club and Mikel Arteta for allowing striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to join Barcelona on a free transfer.

The outspoken Morgan took to social media to criticise the “terrible” decision after the Gabonese striker netted a brace in the Blaugrana’s 4-1 victory at Valencia on Sunday.

Aubameyang, who joined from Arsenal for free on 2 February, was making his first start in La Liga having also been included in the starting line-up for the first time for the Europa League first leg draw against Napoli on Thursday evening.

While the 32-year-old was not involved in the goalmouth action on his first start for the club, he was deadly in front of goal at the Mestalla as he spearheaded Xavi Hernandez’s side to an impressive win.

Aubameyang slammed in the opener from Jordi Alba's assist in the 23 rd minute and converted home another 15 minutes later, surviving narrowly from an offside check by VAR.

Frenkie de Jong had netted a goal in between that in a devastating spell for the visitors, and while Carlos Soler pulled a goal back for Barca after the break – a stunning strike from Pedri settled the tie for the visitors.

But the story of the game was all about Aubameyang, who had initially struggled to make an impact in his brief substitute appearances against Atletico Madrid and Espanyol.

Sunday’s match at the Mestalla was the first league match that Aubameyang had started since Arsenal’s 3-2 defeat at Manchester United on 2 December.

Aubameyang moved to the Camp Nou on an 18-month contract after the Gunners waived any transfer fee in order to make the move permanent.

The experienced striker had not been involved in the 10 matchday squads for the Gunners before his exit after a