LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 29: Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang of Arsenal takes on Roberto Pereyra of Watford during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Watford FC at Emirates Stadium on September 29, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang emerging as one of the elite finishers in the Premier League
Aubameyang is now tied for first in scoring in the Premier League with Man City’s Sergio Aguero, Netting eight times in just 13 appearances. The former Dortmund star is emerging as a clinical finisher in England and will be a vital reason Arsenal finish in the top four.
When we take a look at the big five clubs in England, most of them have a superior finisher. Tottenham has Harry Kane, City has Sergio Aguero, among others. However, for sides like Chelsea and Manchester United, they are immensely struggling to have a true number 9 who can score on a consistent basis. Then there are the Gunners. They have an outstanding scorer on the attack in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. This could be a reason Arsenal ends up finishing within the top four this season above teams like United and Chelsea.
Since coming over to Arsenal last season from Borussia Dortmund for a hefty fee of 56 million euros, The Gabonese international has scored 18 times in just 26 appearances. This season mainly on the left flank for the Gunners, he has formed a very effective partnership with Alexander Lacazette, who usually plays up top in the center.
Calm, but lethal finisher
A sign of a world-class attacker is the ability to finish on limited opportunities in a match. Aubameyang doesn’t always see a ton of chances in every game, but when they do come, he always puts them away. With him playing out on the left flank, it gives him more of a chance to use his lightning-quick speed. He can connect with Lacazette well in this position too, and they can also play balls off of each other this way.
Aubameyang is one of only a handful of players that have scored at a high rate in three of the biggest leagues in Europe. He has played in Ligue 1 in France, the Bundesliga, and now the Premier League. Aubameyang scored 35 times in just 73 appearances across two years for Saint-Etienne in France. He then became a star in Dortmund, netting 98 times in 144 appearances.
Aubameyang is absolutely electric on the counter-attack because he is so fast and he’s got the football IQ to make smart runs behind opposing defenses. Having the versatility to also play centrally up front is a huge benefit to Unai Emery too if he wanted to use Aubameyang up there over Lacazette.
After all, he is more familiar with playing as a central striker. He is scoring at a fairly high rate playing on the left flank, imagine how much he could be scoring if he was actually playing up front as he has in the past? I personally think Aubameyang has a lot more in him. Who knows, maybe it would be a logical idea to try playing Aubameyang up top more often and see how much more effective he could be. Either way, his form on the flank has been spectacular this season.
High football IQ
He isn’t always the player who creates the chances, rather than the type of guy who is always in the right place to convert on scoring opportunities. Despite his speed and skill, he isn’t the most physical player and is a lot better at running onto balls rather than setting up others, evidence of just his one assist this season. He just knows where to be in order to put the ball in the net, and that’s something you can’t teach.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is a very important piece of this Gunners side as he chases the Premier League scoring title alongside Sergio Aguero.
