Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored his third goal for the club in yesterday’s 3-0 win over Watford, and says that although he’s settling in after his arrival from Dortmund in January has been frustrated by his limited playing time.
The 28 year old cannot play in the Europa League because of UEFA rules that leave him cup-tied despite the fact he never appeared in the competition this season.
It was something Arsene Wenger hit out at last month, and the club record signing admits it’s made life more difficult for him.
“When I was in Dortmund, I was playing every three days but now I play once a week or have a long time between games,” he said.
“It is not easy. I am really frustrated because the rules are a bit … I don’t know how to say it in English but I am disappointed because I can’t help my team.
“That’s life. I have to deal with it. It was a bit difficult at the beginning but I am feeling better.
“I didn’t play a lot in January so it was difficult to find the rhythm. Now I am feeling better.
“I work hard, I work a lot in the last weeks and I am happy because I feel better.”
I still can’t really believe he plays for us. He makes the whole team look better with his runs in behind and I really, really loved his goal against Watford. Those are the goals I enjoy the most, more then 30-yard screamers.
Imagine how good he’ll be once he gets used to the physicality of the premier league.
Seems to me that many of his runs still go unnoticed – but I understand it’s easy to spot them from the comfort of my couch.
Or maybe not unnoticed, but that our players sometimes seem not confident to try the through ball and go for an easier sideways pass.
Hopefully we get the most out of him asap.
Even though he didn’t score off that first through ball from Ozil, just that run and that chance put the shits into Watford and that’s what we’ve been missing – opposition really fearing what we can do. I just think he adds so much of an excitement factor to the team.
I stumbled upon this video yesterday, imagine PEA and Bergkamp playing together! Drool…
https://youtu.be/f6UPlEzT1bU
Bergkamp wasn’t exactly surrounded by slouches though was he? Certainly the number 14 in his day was decent.
Fingers crossed we look back on PEA with similarly fond memories in a few years.
We kind of have the modern day Bergkamp in Özil, he doesn’t have the same nose for goal but from a passing perspective he’s certainly not far off. It will be interesting to see how that partnership develops next season after getting to know each other on the pitch. Add in a dash of Micki and it could get really interesting attacking-wise.
He looked good v Watford, had a bit of Thierry about him, fast, in the right places and scoring.
Thierry said: I have admiration for Ian Wright, he is my role model, I watch carefullyhow he scores his goals. He got massive success and even broke Wright’s goal record. PEA came and said: I will try my very best to get close to the king. In between, you have nobody who says: I have admiration for Thierry, Vieira or Berg. They have admiration for themselves but just do not prove it on the pitch.
It’s quite inspiring to have Aubameyang playing for us. I can’t wait to see what he can do next season when he’s elligible for every game.
Great picture!
It would be nice of you to accredit the photos where possible.
It looks like he is diving head first into the pitch
Auba really could have made a huge difference for us in the Europa League. Hoping Lacazette could get back in fit and firing.
If I am not mistaken, Laca was once the guy who scored more goals in Europe or at least scored in the same bracket as the two ET from the spanish league.
Laca in 2016-2017 scored 37 goals in 46 games, one of the very best in terms goals per minute played.
We need to get Lacazette fit and ready.
I have faith in him – he is a good player short on confidence…
He is a lethal finisher, we’ve already seen that
As soon as he scored against Brighton he came to life, was involved more and looked very sharp. Same yesterday except it was from the first whistle. 3 in 5 is a very decent start indeed.
We have 2 absolutely outstanding strikers on our hands.
Still really really really really want to see him and Lacazette play together with Mhikitarian and Ozil just behind.
4-2-3-1 Lacazette strike, Auba left wing, Ozil at 10, Mkhitaryan right, Ramsey at RCM, Modric at LCM
If we can get this lineup next season it would be devastating.
Xhaka and Wilshere bench. I would love another CM like Oliver Torres.
Haha! Why in the world would Modric leave Madrid?!?
If you’re gonna try and fit all of them in then a 4-1-2-1-2 would be a possibility. Ozil playing cam, mkhi playing cm, but with more freedom, wishere/ramsey occupying the other cm spot, depending on form and style of play and whatnot, and xhaka/elneny as dm/deep lying playmaker. Preferably xhaka in that role with elneny competing with wilsh and Rambo. The current defence we have basically picks itself. Not saying it’s the best tactic,just an option to everyone in
EDIT: goes without saying that Lacazette and Aubameyang are up top. Also, maybe give Konstantinos Mavropanos a chance
Excited to see more of him and mkhitaryan together, you can see the understanding theyve developed, they just look like better players together than individually
I’m very happy to see one of quality adorning 14, once again.
“… fucking shit” is how we say it in English Pierre.
Welcome to the Gunners.
I was surprised how good his English is. I think he is also fluent in French, German, Italian (he spent a lot of time in Italy), and maybe Spanish (his mother is Spanish). Probably not Armenian, though you never know.
“****ING mental!” That’s the phrase Pierre
This has got to be the most ridiculous rule ever. I get it when the player is on loan. But we bought him. Paid a ton of money too, and we can’t play him whenever we want to? Well, here’s hoping that Danny boy can find his scoring boots sooner rather than later. And we need Lacazette back as soon as possible too.
I understand being cup-tied in a competition in which you, or even your club, has taken part. But Dortmund was only “in” the Europa League when they dropped down from the Champions League. Dortmund had not played a single match in the Europa League at the time Aubameyang left them. I would happily give him a new number to satisfy UEFA–he could be #114.
Dear Auba,
yes. you continue to work hard. mesut and micky will take good care of you with plenty of assists. Laca taking the final spot on the wing will help you with the scoring burden too, but then again, when has scoring ever been a burden for you.
50 goals next season, deal?