By InfactNG with Agency report
The misery of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang continues to pile up even as he arrived in Barcelona to complete his loan switch from Arsenal.
The want-away former Arsenal captain’s hope of joining Barca may be on the ropes as Samuel Umtiti who had been tipped to be offered as replacement had suffered an injury while Ousmane Dembele deal may not pull through.
The clubs were locked in talks over the striker’s future during the morning of deadline day, with the key factor his £350,000-a-week wages. The Gunners hope to make a big saving on his wages having already let Sead Kolasinac and Calum Chambers leave this month, along with loan departures for Folarin Balogun, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Pablo Mari.
Mikel Arteta sanctioned Aubameyang’s exit after stripping him of the captaincy over a disciplinary breach last month, and the Gabon international has not returned to the squad since, Manchester Evening reports.
On Monday lunchtime, fans and journalists positioned outside Barcelona’s airport spotted Aubameyang arriving through the terminal and he signed autographs before hopping into a waiting vehicle, flashing a thumbs-up as he departed.
A tally of just four goals in 14 Premier League matches had raised questions over the 32-year-old’s form of late. However, Arsenal are lacking in firepower, as evidenced in their 0-0 draw against Burnley last time out, and are set to go without signing a replacement on deadline day.
