Since deadline day did not bring as much joy and hope as I and many Arsenal fans would have liked I figured I could quickly summarize the incomings and then focus on the biggest talking point of the day. Arsenal signed CB Ashton Trusty from Colorado Rapids, in addition to GK Matt Turner from New England Revolution. Both of which will be remaining at their MLS sides until the summer. Being a USMNT fan, I of course know what Turner can do, but not too familiar about Trusty. So, let's see what happens in the summer and go from there. I do find it weird the club did not officially announce these guys tho? Also, is it an eyebrow raiser that Turner comes from the Kroenke owned Rapids?
Now onto the big news... Auba has officially left the club, which in itself, was a whirlwind of ups and downs on deadline day. He was leaving, he was not leaving, he was going on loan, he was terminating his contract, Barca was covering all of his fees, to us assisting until the end of the season. Reports were all over the place, but ultimately I think this was best for all involved unfortunately. Mikel clearly was not going to play him and Auba definitely was not happy. I would much rather have it this way than another two year long saga like the Özil situation.
For me, Arteta has been very vocal about commanding a new attitude and culture within the club and you can't really fault him for that can you? Overhauling something like this is going to be painful when it turns out players you really like are not necessarily buying into that 100%. While I back Arteta, I also feel bad for Auba. It is possible to feel both of those things, and don't let the Twitter trolls tell you otherwise. The fact is we don't know what really happened and it is likely we never will. What I think we all do know is something happened. Arteta is not some czar who is going to banish his captain for no apparent reason. So who really knows if what Auba did was worth the punishment, but his track record from previous clubs allude to the fact something definitely happened. You can't demand change and then when change happens retreat from it. Let's not forget Arteta came from City, who oh yeah is under the tutelage of Pep. The man knows elite atmospheres and what it takes to get there. Lastly on this, Auba had his Barca presser today in which he kinda took shots at Arteta, which I don't think was the right move:
"My last few months at Arsenal were complicated, that's football sometimes. 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."
For me I keep getting stuck on the "I never wanted to do anything wrong" line, which sounds like he is aware there was a problem. Not wanting or meaning to do something does not excuse someone from doing whatever is in question. I think it simply comes down to accountability and Arteta is sticking to his guns.
Even tho I ultimately think the right decision was made and regardless who was in the right and wrong, I still have a ton of admiration for Auba and what he did in his time here at Arsenal. He single handedly won us the FA Cup in 2020 with his goals against City and Chelsea in the final. 2020 Community Shield winner. He was the joint PL Golden Boot winner in 2019. 113 G/A in 163 appearances. He flat out kept us alive in almost everything we played in it felt like. While he did not show his best this current campaign, there are so many fond memories I will have of him. The back flips, the mask celebrations, the infectious laugh, the bruised banana kit I was so pumped to get with his name on the back, the bromance with Laca. Like many, the pandemic and isolation was extremely tough, but Auba was a part of getting us through all of that and was an escape for a lot of people. At the end of the day he loved the fans and I think this is an extremely unfortunate way for things to end. I wish him all the best in his career and I, for one, will choose to remember him for all of the good, joy, and happiness he brought.
Until then, come on you Gunners!
Source: IG @auba
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