Barcelona manager Xavi has hailed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s signing as a ‘gift fallen from the sky’ rather than a ‘gift given to them by Arsenal’.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been banging them in for Barcelona since he left Arsenal following his falling out with Mikel Arteta.

In order to get his wages off the books, Arsenal allowed him to leave for free.

This, according to Barcelona, constitutes a ‘gift fallen from the sky’.

Speaking after Auba scored his fifth goal in six games, Xavi told reporters, “Well, Auba has been a brilliant gift fallen from the sky for us because he’s very positive.

“He reacted very well in the dressing room. He’s adapted quickly to what the terms needs and the circumstances we are in.

“He finds space in behind, he can create chances, he scores goals. He works hard for the team. He pushes the centre backs and the goalkeeper, so it’s a privilege to manage him and we know he’s got a lot of goals to give the team.

“I’m very pleased with him individually because he’s an example to follow in training and everyone in the squad I can’t complain about any player, and you can see that with the result.”

There are, of course, questions over Aubameyang’s general application and influence off the pitch, with every coach he has had until now suspending him eventually.

Xavi may well feel things are going great now with the former Arsenal captain, they usually do when he arrives at a new club.

If you remember, Aubameyang scored eight and assisted three in his first 11 games with Arsenal.

The start of his career at a club has never been the problem, it’s what happens at the end.