With two goals and an assist in the Clasico against Real Madrid on Sunday March 20, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang demonstrated his importance in the current good form of FC Barcelona. However, the striker’s season has not been a long calm river. Captain of Arsenal since 2019, the Gabonese had his armband removed last December, following a “disciplinary offense” according to the club, before being shelved by his coach, Mikel Arteta.
After two months without a single club match and an African Cup of Nations thwarted by “medical problems”, the native of Laval found a (prestigious) base in Barcelona during the last hours of the winter transfer window, at the end of January. The attacker then arrives as the last stone of the offensive site of a Catalan team in lack of confidence since the beginning of the season, but also to compensate for the premature retirement of Sergio Agüero, victim of a heart problem.
Thanks to a hat-trick for his first start in La Liga, the former Gunner dismissed doubts about his state of form and quickly established himself as an essential player in the Barcelona tunic. The striker boasts impressive statistics in the league, averaging one goal every 63 minutes. in Galatasaray.
THROUGH TO THE QUARTERFINALS! pic.twitter.com/imUaMHmLvQ
—FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 17, 2022
Barcelona coach Xavi talks about a “great gift from heaven“, able to “find openings in depthof create chances and score goals“. In addition to his athletic qualities, Aubameyang has regained his qualities as a finisher since his arrival in Spain: “He puts the centre-backs and the goalkeeper to the test“, adds the Catalan technician.
In addition to his technical qualities, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is a mental leader, in the locker room and on the pitch. Captain of Arsenal for two years, as well as of his national team, the Gabonese evoked, last November, this role in an interview for Goal: “I try to be an example, I think that’s the most important part of the role of captain and I try to inspire the young people in the team, but also the older ones.“
Xavi claims he is a player “very positive” and one “example to follow in training, for everyone in this team“. The former Stéphanois has therefore given a second wind to a workforce in need of confidence, by bringing his experience and his mentality. Undefeated since his arrival, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is one of the spearheads of the comeback of the FC Barcelona, after two difficult seasons on the sporting and extra-sporting level of the Catalan club.