Piers Morgan's latest attempt to pour scorn over Arsenal’s decision to allow Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to leave for Barcelona had left Lee Dixon fighting to stay awake.
Mikel Arteta sanctioned the deal which saw the former Gunners skipper cut short his contract at the Emirates to join the Catalan giants on a free transfer. It was a move which divided the support, despite the Gabon international being way short of form in his final months at the club.
Aubameyang subsequently claimed that the issue was only with the manager and that the deal was only completed on his say so: "I think the problem was only with him and he made the decision,” he explained.
"I can't say much, he wasn't happy and that's it. It happened like that. He wasn't very happy, I stayed very calm and that's it. They were difficult months but I think that's how football is sometimes. For my part I have never wanted to do something wrong and now I think that this is the past and I want to think about the present and right now."
Arteta disputed that version of events and responded, saying: "I am grateful for what Auba has done at the club and his contribution since I have been here.
"The way I see myself in that relationship is the solution, not the problem. What I am saying is that I've been this solution, 100 per cent, I can look in the eye of anybody. "I think it ended in the best possible way for everybody. I think when things change, and the context changes and this is part of football.”
And few would disagree with Arteta’s sentiment, with Arsenal on the cusp of a return to the Champions League and Aubameyang back to his best with Barcelona. But one man who certainly does, is outspoken Gunners fanatic, Morgan, who has made constant jibes and remarks ever since his shock departure.
The former Good Morning Britain host has made no secret on which side of the debate he stands on, constantly tweeting support for his team’s former striker.
He has also regularly questioned Arteta, who looks set to end five years in the Champions League wilderness by securing a top-four position this season. “WHAT? Maybe wait until he achieves something? Why is he getting this now?" Morgan posted shortly after Arteta’s contract extension.
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And Morgan was back on the case after the 32-year-old brought his tally for the Blaugrana to nine in LaLiga with a brace in the 3-1 win over Celta Vigo. "Two more Aubameyang goals for Barcelona. That’s 12 in 16 games since we gave him to them for free. Congrats @Auba - I miss you,” to which Arsenal legend Lee Dixon quickly replied with two sleeping emojis suggesting he was a little bored with his latest intervention.
“I don’t find it boring that he’s scoring so many goals,” Morgan then fired back. “Makes me even more convinced he was badly mismanaged at Arsenal.” Aubameyang has scored 12 times since leaving Arsenal in January and has 18 across both clubs this season.
