BBC pundit says Arsenal a ‘better team’ with player Arteta let go

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Micah Richards has stated that Arsenal are a ‘better team’ with a fit and firing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyng in the XI, as he told BBC Radio 5 Live Sport.

But, the former right-back added, Mikel Arteta’s call to let Aubameyang leave for Barcelona in January, was a decision that was ‘best for both’.

At that time, there was a lot of debate and controversy around it all because the 32-year-old was firstly stripped of the captain’s armband for discipline issues.

And then the exit door was opened for him, which led him to Catalonia and to Xavi’s much-changed Barcelona side.

Whilst the Gunners have gone up another level since their former captain left, he is also making noises in La Liga, scoring seven from seven, including a brace during Barcelona’s 4-0 thrashing of Real Madrid over the weekend.

Putting all of that into account, Richards shared his thoughts on Arteta’s call to let the now-rejuvenated Aubameyang leave.

“Sometimes, you have to look at the bigger picture,” said Richards. “He has gone there and done well, but so have Arsenal.

“The way Arteta wanted to play, maybe it suited better with Lacazette holding the ball and runners in-behind. And it has proven so.

“Arteta had to make the decision. He made the decision because of Aubameyang coming late or whatever happened. As a manager, you have to make big calls, at times.

“Would I have liked to see Aubameyang in an Arsenal shirt? Yes, because I believe, when he is playing to the best of his ability, they are a better team. But it wasn’t meant to be and he has gone there and done well. And Arsenal are playing the best they have all season. It was the best for both.”

It needs to be remembered that Aubameyang’s form, since signing a new deal, had gone down the drain.

The Gabon star’s last game was Arsenal’s away defeat at Everton, where he came off the bench and squandered a big, big chance in stoppage-time.

There was a reason why he came off the bench and a bigger reason why he missed that guilt-edge opportunity at Goodison Park because his form was well and truly out of the window.

If Aubameyang had stayed in north London, it’s probably highly unlikely he would have netted seven Premier League goals because, since being in Spain, he is ripping it up.