MESUT OZIL has sent a heartfelt message to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on social media after his Arsenal exit to Barcelona.
Aubameyang, 33, was granted a stunning free transfer to the Nou Camp on deadline day.
The Gabon star had been frozen out by Mikel Arteta after being stripped of the captaincy for a breach of discipline.
Aubameyang’s decline at Arsenal echoed that of Ozil, who was also axed from the senior squad by Arteta.
And the German playmaker, now at Fenerbahce in Turkey, sent Aubameyang a message on Instagram after the forward published a farewell note to Gunners fans.
Ozil simply wrote: “All the best bro.”
Aubameyang’s message to supporters read: “To the Arsenal fans, thank you for making London home for myself and my family for the past four years.
“We went through ups and downs together and your support meant everything to me.
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“Having the chance to win trophies and the honour of being the captain of this club is something I will forever keep in my heart.
“I have always been 100% focused and committed on doing everything I can for this club which is why leaving without a real goodbye hurts – but that is football.
“I’m sad I did not get the chance to help my teammates in the last few weeks, but I have nothing but respect for this club and truly wish all my guys and the fans all the best and many successful years in the future! Love, Auba.”
Arsenal now face a tricky situation in attack, with Alexandre Lacazette looking likely to return to Lyon this summer.
And one man who believes Aubameyang’s exit could come back to haunt Arteta is former Gunners ace Ian Wright.
He noted: “I didn’t think it would come to this. I thought it would be resolved because it was only a year ago that Auba signed that new contract.
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“If there was something wrong with what he was doing, there would have been a build-up of misdemeanours for the manager to say ‘let’s not sign him because he’s been doing this or that.’
“If they knew he was doing things they didn’t like, why did they sign him up for so much money and then a year later he’s gone?
“I don’t know what’s happened between the two of them and I’m not really bothered, but I’m concerned that it couldn’t be healed at a time when we need goals.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk