Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is back with a bang after an impressive first six months with Barcelona, demonstrating that the former Arsenal striker may have finally put his “rotten apple” tag behind him for good.
The forward, who celebrates his 33rd birthday today, linked up with the Blaugrana in January on a free transfer after terminating his deal with the Gunners. And he wasted no time in making an impression, scoring 11 goals in his first 15 La Liga appearances and starring in the 4-0 Clasico win over Real Madrid.
He has taken to life in Spain like a duck to water and that will surprise no one at Arsenal, given his fast start when he first arrived at the Emirates. Having been signed for £55million from Borussia Dortmund, Aubameyang quickly became a fans’ favourite after bagging 10 goals in his first 13 games for the club.
His blistering pace and clinical finishing made him a nightmare for opposition defenders and a dream for those supplying the passes behind him. It begged the question why Dortmund were willing to part ways with a striker who had found the net 98 goals in 144 Bundesliga appearances.
Had they taken notice of comments about Aubameyang's attitude, however, they might have had second thoughts. Former Germany international Matthias Sammer was left in no doubt that he was a “rotten apple” who would never change his ways after a series of disciplinary breaches.
Away from the pitch, the glitz and glamour that comes with being a rich footballer affected his mindset. From jetting off to a pool party 48 hours before a crucial game to turning up late for training after spending the night in Milan, according to The Daily Mail, it was no surprise that his relationship with Tuchel took a turn for the worse.
Similarly at Arsenal, Aubameyang began to stretch the boundaries of what was acceptable with late arrivals back to training and attending sponsor events without authorisation. Sammer's comments seemed to ring true, and when Mikel Arteta was hired in 2019, Aubameyang's laissez-faire approach was always likely to clash with the Spanish coach's philosophy as a disciplinarian.
December 2021 would prove to be the final straw when Aubameyang arrived back late from international duty. He was dropped for Arsenal's next game and stripped of the captaincy, before being permanently exiled by Arteta.
That is when he decided to tear up his contract to join Barca, which looked a good move on paper as his mother resides in the region. It was the chance for a fresh start and one Aubameyang has taken with both hands.
Have Your Say! Were Arsenal right to let Aubameyang leave in January? Comment below.
His manager, head coach Xavi Hernandez, has recognised his value and spoke at length about how Aubameyang has proved to be an example to follow: “Auba has been a brilliant gift fallen from the sky for us because he’s very positive,” he told reporters.
“It's a privilege to manage him and we know he’s got a lot of goals to give the team. I’m very pleased with him individually because he’s an example to follow in training and everyone in the squad.”
After his spell at Arsenal ended in acrimony, Aubameyang appears to have finally learned the error of his ways after largely steering clear of the limelight at the Camp Nou. And as Mikel Arteta struggles to find a long-term replacement for him this summer, the Gabonese player may feel vindicated in his decision to leave.
