Arsenal: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink questions decision to let Aubameyang leave in January

Former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has questioned Arsenal’s decision to let Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leave.

Aubameyang and Arsenal agreed to mutually terminate his contract in January, before he joined Barcelona.

While the Gunners are in desperate need of a striker, Aubameyang has been in red hot form for the Catalan giants scoring eight goals in ten LaLiga appearances.

Aubameyang has enjoyed life in Barcelona since leaving the Gunners back in January

Arsenal are hoping end their three-game losing streak on Wednesday night as they play Chelsea.

Ahead of the game, former Chelsea striker Hasselbaink, insisted manager Mikel Arteta should have only let Aubameyang leave if he had signed a replacement.

When asked on Sky Sports whether the Gunners should have kept the 32-year-old, he replied: ‘I do think so.

‘If you don’t have a replacement don’t let him go. I do think at the time he’s giving trouble, he’s captain, he needs to lead a little more. 

Aubameyang was dropped out of the Arsenal team following a disciplinary breach

‘But as a manager you need to get him on board a little more. He’s your most expensive player, he can score you goals – until you can replace him.’

Aubameyang had fallen out of favour at the Gunners and was removed as the club’s captain in December after a disciplinary breach.

Despite scoring 92 goals in 163 appearances, he left the club after it was obvious that he was no longer part of Arteta’s plans.

Arsenal are in the midst of a top four battle to make next season’s Champions League.

Arteta’s side are short in depth in attacking areas as they challenge for the top-four

Their biggest rivals, Tottenham, are stacked in attacking areas with Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Dejan Kulusevski all in top form since January.

Arsenal’s main two strikers, Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah, have struggled for goals in comparison.

Lacazette has scored just one goal in the league since the start of January.

Nketiah scored his first goal of 2022 during the Premier League clash with Chelsea. 

The Gunners are widely expected to spend big on a new striker during the upcoming summer transfer window.