Why did Arsenal not sign a striker to replace Aubameyang?
Martin Macdonald
- 5 Mar 2022 15:26 GMT
- 3 min read
Arsenal are facing a striker exodus that started with the January transfer window and will continue into the summer.
In June, Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah will likely leave at the expiration of their current contracts.
In January, former club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang left in sour fashion, joining Barcelona on a free transfer after falling out with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.
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Aubameyang was stripped of the Arsenal captaincy and exiled from the squad after a disciplinary issue.
Eventually, he left, with the Gunners not even receiving a transfer fee.
The club desperately attempted to find a replacement in January, with Fiorentina's Dusan Vlahovic emerging as their number one transfer target.
The Serbian would eventually transfer to Juventus, though, and it is believed Arsenal were never really in the running to sign him.
Many fans have wondered why other targets weren't pursued, and Arteta has explained why.
What did Arteta say?
"We always make decisions in the best interests of the club and to get the best performances from the team," the Spaniard told Sky Sports.
"We made that decision as three parties. One was the club, one was Auba and the other was Barcelona. The three of us believed it was the right thing to do.
"[Angering Arsenal fans] was a possibility but I think when you have a clear direction and process of how you make your decisions, you have to be ruthless.
"You have to have a certain courage and consistency in those decisions. If one decision is to only bring in players we can afford, who are going to make the team much better straight away, and who are sustainable for our future, then that should be the case.
"So, even if you are tempted to do something, but you think it's going to bring you trouble in the coming months or years, you should not do it. I think we were brave not to do it.
"We did what we had to do and what was our responsibility as people who are managing this football club.
"But whether it was good or not, we will only know at the end of the season - and it will depend on whether we have won enough matches."
