Aubameyang to affect Arsenal’s Europa League chances? We’ll see

Yes, Arsenal fans, I am aware that our club record signing, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, is not able to take part in any of the Europa League games that the Gunners will play this season, as he is cup-tied after his former club Borussia Dortmund dropped out of the Champions League and into the Europa.

It seems a bit harsh as Aubameyang played for Dortmund in the Champions League but those are the rules, so how could the super quick striker have any affect on the chances of Arsenal winning the trophy in May? Well in order to get to that final, with the first step coming up this week as we try to beat CSKA Moscow in the home leg of the quarter=final.

With no Aubameyang and with Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud having moved on, a lot of the responsibility falls to Alexandre Lacazette. Luckily for us the France international centre forward is back from injury but only featured as a sub at the weekend.

Even more fortunate for us is that Lacazette was given the chance to score when Aubameyang chose to give away his chance of a hat-trick by deferring his designated status as our penalty taker in oreder to give his strike partner a boost of confidence, as reported by Sky Sports

The Gabon international said, “Of course, I know that Laca is back, and I think I scored twice, so I can let him shoot, it’s no matter. I think it’s good for his confidence, so that’s why.”

That is a proper piece of unselfish team play as he will not be getting a winners medal if Arsenal lift the cup. It could prove to be a huge decision as well, because Lacazette was struggling for goals before his long spell on the sidelines and his confidence suffered accordingly.

We will have to see whether Lacazette makes the difference on Thursday, but if he does then everyone concerned with Arsenal will over Aubameyang a big vote of thanks.

Bob.

18 Comments

  1. Strange.
    The whole Dortmund team that played in the Champions League is allowed to play in the Europa League but one player whos now playing for Arsenal Fc is ineligible.

    Anyway, Pep, most of us gooners including Wenger would wanna negotiate a swap deal with you. Take Welbeck and Wilshere off our hand and hand us Sane please. Hell, we’ll even add to that a 10-15 mil.

  2. Get Erikson from Tottenham and feed then Ozil. Dembele for Xhaka.

    Alblack
    Bellerin-Mustafi-Koscielny-Monreal
    Dembele-Ramsey
    Sane-Erikson-Aubameyang
    Lacazette

    Front four excites me. Maybe a few more defensive additions will make us title contenders.

  3. Considering some of the adverse comments made about Aubameyang being a trouble maker, trying to force a transfer away from Dortmund, he showed a “touch of class” at the Emirates. The team focused attitude displayed augers well for his future at the Arsenal.

    1. What a good comment and absolutely right.He looks as though he is enjoying his game and let’s not forget he is still finding out the intensity and pace of the Premiere League.I believe next season will see the best of both Auba and Laca.The new Manager can’t wait I bet

  4. Yes, Lacazette could want to prove himself in the Europa League. Because he has to compete with Aubameyang next season, if he is not sold

    Welbeck could also want to show what he is capable of. If he misses the chances he would be given in the Europa League, unfortunately Arsenal have to sell him or maybe convert him into a wingback

      1. gotanidea, for the reasons stated by John and the fact that there is no reason Aubameyang and Lacazette can’t play in the same team, why would Arsenal sell Lacazette?

  5. Webecks lacks the technical ability to make it with Arsenal.It’s a pity because he is a willing, wholehearted player who gives 100% every time he plays.He has become a back up player who may yet have an important role to play in the Europa Cup.I can appreciate why Wenger likes him as he is versatile and hard working but his performance against Stoke really highlighted his technical deficiencies.To be fair he was not the only Arsenal player who was woeful against the Potters.Wilsh ere was equally poor.

    1. Grandad both Wilshere and Welbeck will be playing for the likes of Everton or West Ham next season which is their true level.Both good players and would prove good squad players but I would get their wages off the payroll and get better quality in.We need to improve the Team and keeping them will not do that

    2. Yes, Grandad, two truths about the limited though likeable Welbeck and also on Wilshere. So WHY does Wenger -and certain fans- still think Welbeck is good enough to be a squad player. It is exactly this lack of ambition to clear out all the “squad players” which is a euphemism for being NOT GOOD ENOUGH, that is keeping our club as also rans. We need an entire squad of good enough players, NOT 11 plus a bunch of also rans. Mind you these days , eleven would be a dream only, since we currently have only about 5 or 6 players good enough to be retained!

  6. Disgracefully, I actually read after this game that SOME journos thought that Auba , in a great team spirited and unselfish way, allowing Lacazette to take the penalty, ACTUALLY showed- and get this – a lack of personal ambition and ruthlessness. Well it’s an opinion! A stupid, thoughtless and ridiculous one maybe, but still an opinion. And they say everyone is entitled to an opinion! Which they are but SOME journos only write rubbish to get copy read, which is the lowest journalistic trick of all. As an oldster, who when young was used to reading impartial and informed journalism almost 100% of the time, I despair at what often passes for “journalism” today.

    1. Jon, I always tried to avoid working with people, who were not “team players”, such as these “journos”. I always wonder how they have the hide to call journalism a “profession” these days.

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