Gaspar explains why Arsenal have no regrets about Aubameyang's termination

After a difficult parting with Arsenal, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang landed on his feet at FC Barcelona and proved remarkable in his first few months for Barça as a finisher. The striker scored 13 goals in half a season and played a key role in Barça's rise to second place in LaLiga. Back at the Emirates Stadium, however, they have no regrets about terminating his contract, as the situation between the player and Mikel Arteta was untenable.

In an interview in The Sun, Edu Gaspar, Arsenal's technical director, reflected on the departure of Auba last winter, insisting that they needed 'to clean up the team'. "When a player over 26 years old has a big salary and does not play, he is killing you," he explained justifying the decision of the Gunners to pay players like Auba to leave. Mesut Özil, Shkodran Mustafi, Sead Kolasinac and Sokratis Papastathopoulos were other names put to the axe.

"Before, 80% of our squad had those characteristics: no transfer value and long contracts and very comfortable in London," he added. According to Gaspar, these moves were investments for Arsenal. "It's better to pay for them to leave than to have them blocking the path of another player. I know it's weird to say it's better to pay a player to leave than to keep him, but sometimes it's like that. Some people say it's expensive to do this, but if there are problems they have to be solved."

After getting rid of all the veterans that Arteta did not count on, Arsenal is on a quest in this exciting summer transfer market. The London club has strengthened its squad with players such as Gabriel Jesus, Zinchenko and Fabio Vieira. "It's important that people see the direction we are going in. We now have a plan. 2022/23 will be the season in which we will be much better," said Edu Gaspar, more than satisfied after his team's first friendlies, before the start of the English season.