AUBA’S OFF AND NOU MORE RIFTS

ARSENAL’S longrunning feud between manager and star player is over at last.

The fallout explains why Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was ready to go to extraordinary lengths to force through a move to Barcelona on deadline day.

Aubameyang, 32, was left out in the cold by Mikel Arteta after their last bust-up. Now the strike star is Nou Camp bound in a permanent deal.

And even with the Gunners struggling to score goals, the Spaniard would rather see his most prolific striker leave on a free than have to kiss and make up.

There have been highs since his then club-record £56million move from Borussia Dortmund in January 2018 – like the FA Cup triumph in 2020 (left).

But even the biggest Arsenal fan would admit Aubameyang has not been the same player since signing a mega three-year contract worth £350,000 a week the following September.

It was Arteta who championed that deal – and has probably regretted it ever since.

The cracks in the relationship first became public in March 2021 when Arteta dropped Aubameyang for the north London derby, citing “disciplinary reasons.”

It later emerged the Gabon striker had got stuck in traffic and it was far from being the first time he turned up late. But the rift flared again after Arteta dropped Aubameyang in December 2021 when he reported back late again, this after being given permission to fly to France to bring over his ill mother.

That divided opinion among the fans but it was the last chance as far as Arteta was concerned.

And Aubameyang taking it upon himself to fly to Barcelona yesterday was the final insult.

Arsenal managed just one goal in five games last month – with Alexandre Lacazette (left, inset) the only experienced striker after attempts to bring in Dusan Vlahovic, who joined Juventus instead, failed.

This is crunch time for Arteta. His contract expires in 2023 and there has been no rush to renew, with the club waiting to see how this season pans out, bearing in mind they did spend £160m last summer.

If Arsenal fail to finish in the top four the decision to let Aubameyang go could haunt him.