"I make Arteta right": Pundit makes honest Arsenal claim after big decision on 163-game star

Former Premier League midfielder Carlton Palmer believes that Mikel Arteta had no choice but to ensure Arsenal sold Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Almost exactly four years to the day from when the Gabonese striker made the switch to the Emirates for £56m from Borussia Dortmund, Aubameyang saw his contract terminated at Arsenal.

Months after Aubameyang had single-handedly led Arsenal to a record 14th FA Cup in the midst of the pandemic some 18 months ago in front of an empty Wembley Stadium, the 32-year-old committed his future to the North Londoners be penning a new deal and was on the verge of securing legendary status at the club.

Aubameyang had scored an impressive 29 goals across all competitions and was a rare bright spot in an otherwise difficult period for the club, the FA Cup win aside, with Arsenal finishing 8th.

But since the striker put pen to paper, the goals have generally dried up, while he's endured several off the field problems.

He was dropped for the North London derby after a breach of the club's pre-match protocol in March, before being left out of the squad that beat Southampton in December after a disciplinary breach and then was stripped of the captaincy.

Aubameyang's final Arsenal appearance came as a late substitute at Everton on 6 December, with Arteta opting to leave him out of every game since then.

Therefore, a January exit always looked inevitable, and while his move to Barcelona hasn't yet been confirmed, he's already started training with his new side.

He leaves Arsenal with an outstanding record of 92 goals in 163 games, but Palmer said that moving him on was the right decision.

He told GIVEMESPORT: "He's obviously crossed the manager on several occasions and Arteta feels that he has to show