Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has praised Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta for his bold decision to let Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leave. The former Chelsea striker believes the decision to let Aubameyang go has seen other players at the Emirates ‘play out of their skin’.

Arsenal let Aubameyang join Barcelona on a free transfer in January after Arteta stripped him of the club’s captaincy and froze him from the first team. The striker has started his stint at the Camp Nou with a bang, but the Gunners have also done well in this period.

With their 2-0 win over Leicester City on Sunday, Arteta and co. have won five league games on the trot. The Gunners lead fifth-placed Manchester United by a point but have three games in hand.

While speaking on Sky Sports [via Mirror], Hasselbaink was full of praise for Arteta and his decision about Aubameyang. The former Chelsea striker said in this regard:

“He was not leading the team in the way that he should be leading a team. It was better to let him go and get the team together. You can see they are playing out of their skin.”

Aubameyang left Arsenal after problems with Arteta

Aubameyang signed a new deal in 2020 and was named the Arsenal captain as well. However, things turned sour between the striker and Arteta this season, leading to the striker’s exit.

The Barcelona striker confirmed the exit was all down to his issues with Arteta and said:

“For my part, I never wanted to do anything wrong. My problem was only with Arteta. I can’t say much more; I wasn’t happy. It was just him, and he made that decision. He wasn’t happy, I can’t tell you more. He wasn’t very happy, I was very calm. Those were difficult months. This is football. I’ve never wanted to do anything wrong; it’s the past, and I want to think about the present.”

Aubameyang added:

“I have always been 100 per cent focused and committed on doing everything I can for this club which is why leaving without a real goodbye hurts — but that is football. I’m sad I did not get the chance to help my teammates in the last few weeks, but I have nothing but respect for this club and truly wish all my guys and the fans all the best and many successful years in the future!”

Aubemyang has five goals in six LaLiga games for Barcelona, while he scored just four in 14 Premier League outings for Arsenal this season.