Rio Ferdinand explains how Arteta and Aubameyang benefitted from the latter’s departure

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is enjoying his spell at Barcelona.

The Gabon forward has joined Barcelona on the January deadline day and ended his four-year spell with Arsenal.

He has scored five goals in his last three games for Barcelona and is looking to be back in his best form.

His relationship broke down with Arsenal in the last few months which eventually fueled his decision of leaving the Emirates.

But Mikel Arteta has hardly missed the striker since his departure and his exit has somewhat benefitted the Gunners.

Ferdinand told his Vibe with Five podcast: “I just feel he looks happy again.

“I saw him at Arsenal for a number of months where he just didn’t look happy.

“People undervalue and underestimate how important your happiness is when you’re a footballer or any job that you’ve got to have that element of happiness and fulfilment and he just wasn’t having that at Arsenal.

“Both have benefited from him leaving. Arteta has got even more of a stranglehold on the squad, more respect, they know where they stand now, there’s a line that they don’t go beyond, we don’t know the details of that.”

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