Mikel Arteta says Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang should be considered one of the best strikers in the game even though he’s not had a trophy-laden career.
The 30-year-old has been one of Europe’s most prolific strikers in the last seven seasons, bagging 141 goals in 213 appearances for Borussia Dortmund and a further 60 for Arsenal since moving to the Emirates two years ago.
To date, the Gabon international has won him two domestic cup competitions – the Coupe de Ligue with Saint Etienne in 2013 and a DFB Pokal triumph with Dortmund – as well as a couple of German Supercups.
Compared to the continent’s other leading strikers, it’s a paltry haul but in the eyes of the boss, it doesn’t detract from his obvious quality.
“Auba is that he’s right there with the best of the scorers in this league,” said Arteta ahead of Thursday’s Europa League game with Olympiacos.
“In the last 10 years if you look at his record and what he’s done in the game it’s phenomenal. In my opinion, he’s up there with the best.”
Asked why Aubameyang isn’t always considered one of the best by others, Arteta said: “Obviously with top players who are playing at clubs that are winning constantly, there is more impact on that.
“But we all know how good Auba is. It is remarkable what he is doing and how consistent he has been over the years to do it, which is very very difficult to do.”
There was even time for a pointed dig at neighbours Sp*rs.
“Harry Kane has scored 30 goals and never won the Premier League – there are a lot of good examples of players that do phenomenally, but unfortunately there are a lot of top teams in this country and only one wins the league so you can’t have everything in life.
“I think if he had been top scorer in the league, and won the league, then he would have been voted the best player in the league for sure. You need both.”
Auba is that he’s right there with the best of the scorers in this league,” he added.
“In the last 10 years if you look at his record and what he’s done in the game it’s phenomenal. In my opinion he’s up there with the best.”
God, please let’s win the Europa this season. Amen.
Looks doable
Joint 3rd favourite, need someone to do us a favor and knock Inter out really.
Agree, imo, its between us, wolves, inter and man u. I believe!
Sevilla and Ajax are in there too
lmao
“I think if he had been top scorer in the league, and won the league, then he would have been voted the best player in the league for sure. You need both.” I detect the sales line to Auba. “Stay with us, we’re building a winning team! There is more of gamble elsewhere than at Arsenal.” Or am I too optimistic? Just can’t help loving Arteta!
All these statements on Auba leave me with mixed feelings. On the one hand I’m happy he’s getting the recognition he deserves, on the other hand I’m afraid we’re trying very hard to squeeze out the best price for him from all the hovering clubs.
I hope I’m very wrong and he instead sees how much the club loves him and decides to end his career here. I’d love him to get a statue outside the Emirates next to Henry and Bergkamp
Aubameyang is a phenomenal player, but he’s 31 in June. At some point he’s going to dip physically, and he’s a player who’s game is built around his superior athleticism and agility. When Alexis dropped, it wasn’t pretty, turning down £60million from City was a massive error. I’d be tempted to cash in for the right price, and as much as I love Lacazette, I’d be looking to move him on as well. Pepe will be better next season, as will Saka, Nelson and Nketiah. Getting £135million for Aubameyang, Lacazette, Mkhitaryan, Elneny, Mustafi, and then getting Ozil off the books… Read more »
But he’s 30 until he’s 31.
Is that really how it works?
Great athletes who dip physically at the end of their careers offset that drop off with wisdom and smarts — Auba, who looks everyday the superhero in red in white, does not appear to be slowing down, but even if he does, a bit, we’d be idiots to sell this world class striker in the hopes of getting another this good for anywhere near the same price.Without his goals, we’d be nowhere. If this team just wants to balance the books, then yes, Rich, you’re right, we should sell Auba and continue to turn over our assets and follow that… Read more »
You can’t say with any certainty that he won’t dip, anymore than I can say he will dip. But it’s a reasonable question to ask, Aubameyang has a lot of football in his legs, and the wide positions under Arteta are physically demanding. For a player who’s main attributes are fitness and athleticism, giving him a £50mill 3yr deal is risky, particularly as shifting him before then becomes impossible if he signs, and he’ll hold no value in the market after that. I don’t see Alexis using his wisdom and smarts to offset his drop in physical output, he’s lost… Read more »
He will undoubtedly dip at some point and his ability to play on the wing may diminish but through the center and with smart timing and positioning to compensate for declining athleticism he will be able to keep scoring until he is 34 at least. If anything I would sell Laca, not because of his dip in form, but because of his age, he is someone who could bring good cash back.
The guy is a superb poacher, and one only gets that way by be as astute reader of the game. I wish we would sign him up and pay him accordingly, but don’t underestimate KSE making him a “casualty” of trying to keep the wage bill low.
Agreed apart from the statue.
Put Auba in a team with Bergkamp, Vieira, Campbell, Pires and so on and I could see him hitting Thierry heights. Given his record in a weaker team he must be pretty close anyway.
Great player, we are lucky to have him.
I don’t think he is quite that good, but not far off
Prolific, yes, but no same mind would compare him to TH14 technique wise.
Auba’s goals per game in his Arsenal career is 0.66 versus 0.68 for Thierry. Given the quality of the sides they played in it could be argued they are at the same level.
Obviously this is all pretty subjective. But to me, Henry was unquestionably a much better player than Auba.
Henry had insane technical ability, invention and creativity. Would Auba ever lift a player up who was holding him from behind and back-heel it in? The control combined with an outside of the foot finish vs Sparta Prague? The Man United volley?
I am not saying Auba isn’t a great player, we are super lucky to have him, but to me Henry was arguably the best player in the world at points in his career.
Very hard to tell, I agree Thierry was sensational.
Difficult to know if Auba could have done the same but playing with Bergkamp and the others would have lifted him up. Pretty close imo, though impossible to prove.
Joel or Sol?
I’ll let you guess…
Either way they are all legendary
Whatever you say, Joel…
How could you forget Auba’s champions league trophy…
For Wycombe Wanderers…
In my Fifa14 career…
@Mentalista
Sorry, don’t know of anyone who was there to see it. Wasn’t publicised
or televised either.
Portsmouth has won a trophy more recently than Harry Kane.
Remember when Santori used to regularly slag Aubameyang off for not being able to beat a man one-on-one, and being too limited? Incredible.
On a (slightly) unrelated note and talking of incredible achievements, I would like to say congratulations to Arseblog for reaching 18 years! Having just ran through the compiled stats it just goes to show how much hard work and dedication goes into keeping it alive. Only the other day I was going through some older posts on the Wayback Machine and it is crazy to see how much it has grown and developed. Thank you to Andrew and all those who have been involved – having been an avid reader of the site over the years your insights have certainly… Read more »
Arsenal missed a very big opportunity to lure him from Dortmund when Van Persie left. I’m glad he signed for us, I’d like to see him stay. If he doesn’t sign a new contract in the summer, of course he’ll leave then.
Yes, we probably should’ve gone for both him and Klopp
Keep him…..pay him……praise him.
Must be the water at Dortmund. Lewadowski, Auba and now Haaland.
Happy 18th Anniversary Blogs!
Auba is sensational. However if we don’t get Champions League football it’d be hard to convince him to stay.
That’s exactly the point. I am convinced that the club and fans wants him to stay for 3-4 more seasons, but does he? It is perfectly understandable if he wants to trophies and play CL before putting the fotball shoes on shelf. Even if he (as we) believe that is within scope of the near Arsenal future, the question is he has the patience for that in his age……
Going.
He won’t stay.
Also likely other key departures.
We will be hollowed out again bc we won’t spend, prefer to take risk in market.
Time to get use to the fact we are no longer a top team.
And just saying, Arteta has the same players as available to Emery. Same results.