Paul Merson has given his verdict on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's proposed loan move to Barcelona, saying that Arsenal would have had a result by offloading his wages.
Aubameyang signed a new contract in 2020, with the Gunners paying him £350,000 per week for his services.
Ever since he signed the deal, his performances have declined, and this season he was stripped of the captaincy and dropped from the squad by Mikel Arteta due to disciplinary breaches.
The striker's goal record for the club has been sensational ever since he arrived four years ago, but his relationship with Arteta has deteriorated to the point where he is now expected to depart.
And Merson believes that it would be a good result to offload the 32-year-old and get his salary off the wage bill.
"I thought they might have been able to polyfiller over the situation, if I'm being honest, but that hasn't happened and, I think, if you can get him off the wage bill, you have had a result," he told Sky Sports.
"If it's for six months, six months at £350,000 a week is a lot, a lot of money, a lot of money, so I think there might be a deal along the way, and I think even Aubameyang might have to swallow a couple of pounds here."
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Aubameyang arrived at the Nou Camp earlier today, but it seems as though neither Barcelona nor Arsenal were expecting him to travel. It is believed he has done so to push through a deal, one that is stalling due to his high wages and Barcelona's financial restrictions.
On Aubameyang's decision to travel to Spain, Merson added: "Not really (surprised Auba has gone over there with Arsenal said to be surprised), sometimes Aubameyang does what he wants to do. He's trying to push this through.
"He's just gone over there. He's got nothing to lose, he's going back to Arsenal and will be on big wages for the next six months."
It remains to be seen whether Aubameyang, Barcelona and Arsenal can thrash out a deal for the striker to move, although it's recently been reported by The Athletic's David Ornstein that talks have broken down due to the striker's salary.
