What makes Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang so good? Read on to find out
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has proven to be one of the best Arsenal signings for a very long time. Not only can he score, he can find a telling pass, make incredible runs, and provide assists when needed.
Not having him in the team has shown to be betting on a low average at best, and you would much rather have him on the field, than on the bench. Here are the reasons why Auba is such a great player.
Scoring Ability
You can’t be a world class striker without scoring ability, this is obvious, but much like his predecessor Thierry Henry, Aubameyang has shown to be a striker that can score from any position.
He is there for a tap in, he can shoot and score from distance, he can knock in a header or two, and has also proven to be ice cold when taken penalties. He doesn’t just poach goals, he doesn’t just tap them in either.
He can make goals as well, for himself and for his teammates. Not only can he start a counterattack or make the pass that can lead to a goal scoring opportunity, more often than not, he can make the run to then score the goal.
In other words, he is a very complete striker, he also has been gifted with great strength and speed, two aspects that when combined with his goal scoring ability, make him a very formidable player for opponents to try and defend and stop.
Doesn’t Disappear in Big Games
One aspect of a strikers game that has come under more and more scrutiny is not only how many goals you score, but who you score against. Nobody will rate you if you put 5 past a League 2 team in the FA Cup, but can’t seem to score one against a fellow Big 6 team in the Premier League.
Many goalscorers have also been widely criticised for this, while Bruno Fernandes isn’t a striker for Manchester United, he has been scoring a lot of goals, however, he does get lambasted due to the fact that he seems to become invisible in massive games, having little to no impact on them.
This doesn’t seem to be the case with Auba. While he has had some questionable performances against the bigger sides, very few players have scored more goals against the Big 6 than him currently.
Mo Salah has been praised for similar reasons, no matter how his team is doing in these bigger games, he always seems to find a way to score. Sadio Mane is another player doing the same thing on a regular basis, turning up for the big games.
Fitness
Auba’s fitness doesn’t get near enough praise as it should. While players at his level should be incredibly fit, his ability to stay injury free would be a huge boost. The fact that something like Malaria was what kept him out for a while, as opposed to fatigue considering the packed playing schedule, is once again testament to his fitness level.
He also runs himself into the ground on a regular basis. He isn’t a striker that just hangs out in the opponent’s half of the field, he runs back to defend, he makes runs for teammates, and he always ensures he is where he needs to be, from minute 1, to the 90th.
Adaptability
Considering Arsenal’s up and down season, adaptability has been a must for Auba. He has also not had the most fruitful season, only scoring 10 goals, a much lower return for a player of his talent.
However, he has needed to be adaptable. Arsenal have needed to change how they play and the role of each player, and Auba has become more of a support player than a goal scorer this season.
He has also had to deal with minimal chances created by his team, yet he has still found a way to score, or make an opportunity himself to score. Obviously this isn’t the position he wants to be in, but he has been off the goals lately, and changing his role to ensure he can still help the team, takes us to the next point.
Team Player
A lot can be said about Auba and his ability, yet the one thing that isn’t up for debate is the fact that he is most definitely a team player. As mentioned, he has had to take on more of a support role this past season, creating chances for teammates instead of being the one to score.
Some may think he is sometimes unnecessarily selfless as well, assisting a teammate when he could have gone to score himself. However, if the goal is scored, what difference does it make? Rightly or wrongly, he is very selfless, and wants his team to find glory before he does.
While he has had a lukewarm season, there is no doubt that Auba will come back next season fighting, and proving once again that he is one of the best strikers in the Premier League, as well as one of the best strikers to ever play for Arsenal.