Aubameyang would be a great buy, but Arsenal need more

With the departure of Theo Walcott to Everton formally announced, he endured many long and painful seasons with the club often being struck by injuries.

However, not many players can say they have scored over 100 goals for their club and Walcott is a part of the prestigious 100 club. Yet, whenever he would be in the form of his life, an injury would occur resulting in no game time for weeks or even months.

The main problem with his injuries was whenever he would come back he would lack his killer finishing and lose a bit of the frightening pace he once had.

Many Arsenal fans are happy to see the back of Walcott, because he would always lack that final ball delivery and some say he complained often about wanted to play up top, but lacking a striker’s finish. On the other hand, some are sad to see the 28-year-old player depart, as he was a professional on and off the pitch, who simply got his head down, played football and never argued with the managers or players.

Many football fans are excited for the month of January, whereby we witness big signings across the leagues, big departures, transfer speculations and deadline day. Nevertheless, for Arsenal there are still many questions that need to be answered.

Firstly, the whole Sanchez saga needs to be put to bed. Sanchez should go to Manchester United as Arsenal will gain more money from it than City and could gain a player too.

It is believed that Alexis has agreed terms with United, but Henrikh Mkhitaryan is the man who decides the future of Sanchez, if Henrikh agrees then the transfer can happen quickly. However, currently Mkhitaryan is taking his time assessing his options, as he is in no rush.

Secondly, who to bring in when Sanchez eventually departs to whichever club. There has been speculation of the 20-year-old Malcom who has been referred as the young Douglas Costa.

A pacey and stocky player who is not afraid to beat a man. Also, the goal scoring machine that is Pierre-Emerrick Aubameyang, the Gabon international, who has a big reputation for Borussia Dortmund.

He would be a class signing for the Gunners, a proven striker who has an abundance of pace and a clear eye for goal. It is all well and good if we secure the signing of Auba, but if Sanchez and even Ozil leaves, who will be the one providing balls into Auba and Laca.

The Gabon international looks likely to leave the Bundesliga this month having angered the club on numerous occasions so far, this season. The Daily Mirror say a move to Arsenal is on the verge of being completed with the player’s agents arriving in London today to thrash out a deal. Dortmund want Aubameyang to go, despite manager Peter Stoger dismissing talk of a move away.

The striker is their top-scorer this season, having hit 21 goals from 23 appearances.

In a recent Sky Sports article they presented Aubameyang statistics and in total, Aubameyang has scored 69 league goals since the start of the 2015/16 season, the sixth-best tally in Europe’s top five leagues across that period, while a conversion rate of 23.7% in that time is also a fine return for the forward.

The predicament, though, would be how Arsene Wenger incorporates Aubameyang into his starting XI. The Gunners boss has routinely favoured a system that is dependent on a sole striker in recent years and having spent a hefty amount on Alexandre Lacazette, to sign a similar forward wouldn’t provide a solution for Alexis’ impending exit, but rather another problem for Wenger to navigate.

On paper, the numbers weigh heavily in Aubameyang’s favour. After scoring 25 goals in 31 appearances in 2015/16 and 31 in 32 last season, he has found the net 13 times from 15 Bundesliga games this term.

Only Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski (15) is above him in the goal charts, while no Bundesliga player has scored more clear-cut chances (12) than Aubameyang in 2017/18.

Personally, we need another centre back, because we are leaking goals for fun at the minute. We are not a Liverpool FC, who can rely on their attack to play a game of if you score 1 we will score 2. I would like to see a player like Koulibaly sign for us, though that will be unlikely.

Players such as, Iwobi, Welbeck, Elneny and Holding all should depart – they are not good enough and have had constantly abysmal performances. I would like to see Malcom, Auba or even Mertens and N’Zonzi come in. However, Mertens will be unlikely even though his buyout clause is shockingly cheap.

The Sanchez deal could easily be completed in the matter of days, though who we bring in is another matter. Wenger could even secure someone on deadline day, but when interviewed he is very closed lipped about the ‘potential’ signings that Arsenal could make.

 

Written by Giovan Hayer

Follow Giovan on Twitter @GiovanH

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