Arsenal are eager to sign Borussia Dortmund star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as a replacement for Alexis Sanchez, who is set to leave the club for Manchester United.
The 28-year-old has established himself as one of Europe’s ace marksmen over the last three seasons and has been in scintillating form in front of goal this season.
He has scored 13 goals and provided three assists in 15 Bundesliga appearances – as well as nine goals in all other competitions.
The Gabon international may have some disciplinary issues to work on but could be the attacking threat that Arsenal have been lacking in recent months.
Here, we look at three things to expect from the Dortmund star if he is to join the Gunners.
Where would he fit?
Aubameyang has been Dortmund’s most prolific striker over the past three seasons but he is capable of playing anywhere across the front three and making an impact from wide positions.
With both Theo Walcott and Alexis Sanchez set to leave the club during the transfer window, his versatility makes him a significant option for a Gunners side lacking in pace, movement and most importantly firepower in attack.
The 28-year-old brings pace in abundance and the ability to create things out of nothing while record signing Alexandre Lacazette tends to need direct service to feet, or his head, to make a direct impact on the game.
However, the acquisition of Aubameyang could provide the north London club with a much-needed spark and help the likes of Lacazette rediscover their goalscoring confidence, or the Frenchman could be affected by a rival for his position given Arsene Wenger’s preference to go with one up top.
How does he compare to current competition?
The elusive Aubameyang has spent a large part of his career out wide – until 2014 – when Robert Lewandowski signed for Bayern Munich, and Jurgen Klopp reshuffled him into the centre forward spot.
With that, it will be interesting to see where Wenger feels he best fits his system – in a bid to bolster his attack without the services of talisman Sanchez and Walcott.
In 1325 minutes of Bundesliga action this season, Aubameyang has scored 13 goals – averaging a goal every 86 minutes. This is in contrast to Alexandre Lacazette who scored eight in 1,609 minutes – and Olivier Giroud who has netted four in 376 minutes.
Lacazette, though, tests the goalkeeper more regularly than the pair, hitting the target with 70 percent of his shots, compared to Aubameyang’s shot accuracy of 56 percent and Giroud’s 43 percent.
Although Aubameyang has scored more goals, Lacazette has been more efficient, with an average of just 2.2 shots per goal scored, whereas Aubameyang has a shots-to-goal ratio of 3.8 and Giroud scores with every fourth attempt.
With a pass accuracy of 77 per cent, Aubameyang marginally has a better eye for picking out his teammates than Lacazette (74 per cent) and Giroud (69 per cent).
With his pace, Aubameyang is a threat any time he is in possession, and his time on the wing, has perhaps given him an appreciation of the movement needed to beat opposition players.
If Arsenal are to land Dortmund’s prized asset, he will add another layer to their star-studded attack and it could be the difference between the north London side securing a Champions League spot this season.
Where he needs to improve?
Although he ticks the right boxes in most areas, Aubameyang’s biggest vice is his temperament.
The ace attacker was suspended for Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Wolfsburg after missing a team meeting the previous day.
It’s the third time in 12 months that Aubameyang has been disciplined in such a manner by the club.
If he is to back-up his world class talents and become a star in the Premier League, then this is an area where he needs to improve.
He may be a key figure in the Dortmund dressing room – but if he is to behave like that at Arsenal – he won’t last long under Wenger and some of his teammates.
Stepping out of line with the support the club has is out of question.
