Released by Arsenal so that he can commit to FC Barcelona, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leaves England through the back door. The Gabonese has however achieved great things in 4 years with the Gunners.
Finished the traditional salto before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the side of the Emirates Stadium, just like the original celebrations imagined by the Panther and his friend Alexandre Lacazette. As in recent weeks at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal fans will have to get used to life without their now ex-No. 14, who terminated his contract (which expired in 2023) for sign up for FC Barcelona for free. If the dressing of this operation is quite surprising, allowing at least the Gunners to save nearly €30 million by June 2023, the purpose is less so.
A painful dismissal
The 32-year-old striker was removed from the group on December 11 (without ever being reinstated) by Mikel Arteta, then stripped of his status as captain for disciplinary reasons. “We have been very consistent that some rules are non-negotiable within the team. Today, he is not concerned enough with the course of action we have set for ourselves.said the Spanish coach before the match against Southampton (3-0).
⚡ For the match-winning moments 🙅♂️ For the iconic celebrations 😀 For making us smile Thank you for everything, @Auba ❤️
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) February 1, 2022
A radical decision, especially since the relationship between the former Stéphanois, also passed by Monaco, Lille or Dijon, and his coach have always been very good. Arteta, who pushed and played a major role in Aubameyang’s contract extension last summer, has indeed always supported his player, notably maintaining his confidence in the more delicate passages he experienced in the north of London. “Since I’ve been here (December 2019, editor’s note), I’ve had a good relationship with Auba, that’s why it hurts so much”recognized the disciple of Pep Guardiola on December 14.
Noted visit to Her Majesty’s Kingdom
The one commonly known as “Aubam” or PEA was then pushed out by his management, through a very narrow door, much to the dismay of Arsenal supporters. Because if the Gabonese had strangely lost his luster since his XXL extension, distinguishing himself by big failures and sometimes going through meetings like a ghost (only 4 goals in 14 Premier League games in 2021-2022), he can boast of have a more than honorable record in England, where Arsène Wenger did not hesitate to pay €64 million to bring him from Borussia Dortmund in January 2018. At that time, Arsenal were looking for a striker capable of scoring goals like pearls.
Four years later, it is not his 92 goals and 21 assists in 163 appearances in the jersey struck by the barrel that will say the opposite. For his first full season with our English neighbors, Aubameyang followed the infernal pace of the biggest in the championship to finish co-top scorer (22 goals) alongside Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané, but ahead of Sergio Agüero (21) and Jamie Vaerdy (18). In 2019-2020, he repeated his performance (22 goals), however narrowly failing to win the Golden Boot in PL behind the Senegalese Reds (23 pawns).
Sad end for Aubam and the Gunners
Criticized by some for his lack of technique or elegance with the ball, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang still brought a lot of happiness and emotions to the Emirates Stadium, scoring decisive goals, sometimes subtle, sometimes sumptuous . Fans will not soon forget, for example, that he gave Arsenal their 14th FA Cup in 2020 thanks to their double in the final against Chelsea (2-1). PEA also participated in the conquest of his other trophy gleaned in north London by scoring his only goal against Liverpool during the Community Shield the same year (1-1, 5 tab to 4).
𝗟𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝘂𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗱’@Auba for you?⚡️⚽️#AFC 🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/Ums4RyqscH
— Arsenal FC 🇫🇷 (@ArsenalFansFR) January 31, 2022
His early and hasty departure ultimately leaves a taste of unfinished business. Both for the Gabonese, whose last appearance with the London jersey will remain 5 short minutes spent on the Goodison Park meadow, a sad evening of defeat against Everton (1-2), and for the supporters. The latter hope one day to have more details explaining this end of love story having turned into a nightmare in the Kingdom of His Majesty.
Aubameyang impersonates Arsenal legend Thierry Henry to celebrate his goal against Tottenham on September 26, 2021.
