Arsenal news: Arteta will be ‘chuffed to bits’ after £25m transfer update from Sky – pundit
Mikel Arteta will be “chuffed to bits” after getting Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang out of Arsenal and saving an estimated £25million in wages, according to Noel Whelan.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed the Gunners can now use that windfall to replace the 32-year-old in the summer window.
According to Sky Sports (1 February), Aubameyang has put pen to paper on a deal with Barcelona after agreeing to terminate his Arsenal contract.
The broadcaster estimates that the Gabon international’s exit will save the Gunners £25million in wages.
The striker’s £350,000-per-week deal had 18 months left to run.
Aubameyang has not featured for Arsenal since a disciplinary breach saw him stripped of the captaincy in December.
Whelan claimed the striker’s imminent exit is a “huge win” for Arteta.
“It’s a huge win for Arteta,” he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.
“They needed to get him out the door as quickly as possible.
“Arteta has done the right thing. I can imagine he will be chuffed to bits after saving £25million by getting rid of him.
“There was no way back for him, and now they can use that money to replace him.
“It’s good business at the end of the day, he was the highest earner.”
Dusan Vlahovic, now of Juventus, and Alexander Isak had been linked with Arsenal moves during the January window.
However, the Gunners are now left with just Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah as senior striking options for the rest of this season.
Arteta’s side sit sixth in the Premier League.
In other news, pundit claims Arsenal chief ‘wide open to criticism’ after transfer latest.