Aubameyang – The Face of The ‘New Arsenal’ by Dan Smith
My brother supports Man United. He rang me last night not understanding why gooners are so giddy about the news that Aubameyang has extended his contract.
Like anything, to comment you need to walk in our shoes.
Where a Man City or Chelsea take for granted their best players signing new deals, us Gunners don’t have that luxury. Aubameyang really is the exception to the rule.
Not just as a fanbase have we got used to world class players leaving, but it’s become the norm for them to end up at one of our top 6 rivals. And make no mistake, Aubameyang is world class. There is not a team in this country he could not get into.
Negotiations were not perfect. We yet again gave a player and his agent a lot of leverage by allowing a contract to run down to it’s final year. In reality, it meant we had to pay over the odds for someone in his thirties who won’t have much resale value.
As much as it’s nice to hear him refer to The New Arsenal as his family, give me 250,000 pound a week, I would also say whatever you want me to say about your brand.
In that sense maybe the Pandemic helped us. Assessing his options, suddenly few teams were able to match the wages we were prepared to pay.
Football is a business where if you stand still, you get left behind. Keeping our top scorer was something Arsenal just had to take a hit on for the benefit of the team. To be fair we haven’t always done that so this is progress that those in power realised we couldn’t yet again prioritise value over a footballing decision.
Not just would it have been a PR disaster to see Auba go to Stamford Bridge or Old Trafford on the cheap, it would have been a hammer blow to a squad who had just finished 8th. After our worst League position in 25 years, if Stan Kroenke is unwilling or unable to invest in a recruitment overhaul, then he knew the bare minimum was securing the services of the Gabon International.
Even from a pure business point of view, our owner makes more money if the New Arsenal are in the Champions League and winning trophies. Auba’s goals are a key factor in doing that as he’s proved recently at Wembley.
There would also be an awareness that the likes of Adidas would be less reluctant to pay big bucks if suddenly big names were not advertising their merchandise. Auba already has an incredible social media following which will only intensify now he has committed his future to North London.
From day one he’s been respected at the Emirates but it’s now he has a chance to become the legend he says he wants to become. Not just will our fans be grateful for him staying when we really needed help, but this can now be his Arsenal.
In Arsenal’s excellent video confirming the news, Auba referred to the likes of Henry, Adams and Bergkamp who each didn’t just win things but formed a legacy. In that sense winning one title in three years with us would make him a legend in the game more than say winning loads at the Etihad.
That’s the special place Auba is at right now. So many foreigners moved to England and brought into Arsenal’s history, becoming immersed in our ethos and principles.
That’s what Auba could become. Not just a great player for Arsenal but the face of the New Arsenal. In many ways he has from day one. Straight away it was evident that he had a bromance with Lacazette and was popular with a young dressing room.
He in many ways is the modern-day sportsman, interacting with supporters on social media. That’s why I don’t agree with the cynics who suggest he’s just saying what we want to hear. Anyone who’s observed him off the pitch would find it hard to think he’s that type of person.
Yes, of course he and his father made sure he got paid a hell of a lot of money to sign on the dotted line, yet it is possible to be rich and still be a genuinely nice person. This is a man who loves comic books and superheroes. I watched him attend a wrestling event and he properly marked out when meeting wrestlers backstage.
When one WWE star presented him with his own replica belt, he said this was a dream come true as he was a lifelong fan. Just think about that…
Here is someone probably richer then those he was meeting. Who could afford to buy as many belts as he wants? Yet in that moment he was in awe, like a big kid. It’s that geekiness that makes him relatable. It’s cool to know that even when you have lots of money in the bank, you don’t necessarily turn your back on your comforts, you don’t forget who you are.
We have had some great talent at our club bit I don’t remember many who after only being around for three years would refer to ‘Wrighty’, showing he’s taken time away from training to immerse himself into what our badge means.
You have to give Arteta credit as well, as I don’t think this decision would have been reached had Unai Emery still been in charge.
That’s not to be disrespectful to our former manager but when Auba’s no longer smiling, you know things are not right off the field. If there was one criticism of Auba last year, it was that he wasn’t the captain we needed him to be in the dark days of December. When the likes of Saka and Willock needed some leadership, his body language was often poor.
His current boss has since admitted he wasn’t sure if he could convince Auba to tactically do what he wanted. Pre- Arteta, Auba would often have a quiet game before popping up in the area and scoring (don’t get me wrong, there are worse flaws to have) yet the new regime wanted more from their forward. They wanted him to defend from the front, to press, to time his runs from the left. The fact he’s done that to perfection shows the man-management of Arteta.
So to pay tribute to our skipper, I made a little video of in my opinion his best goals so far. I thought for a couple of obvious reasons that 14 would be an appropriate total.
So Aubameyang is here to stay.
Yes, he will score more goals.
He might even win more medals.
But he now becomes the face of the New Arsenal ……….A chance to live forever.
I said to my brother…… At Man United ….. greats become heroes …. but at Arsenal …. heroes become legends.
Enjoy my video
Dan
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Pe2rmPM5-AcSAH3y2bxzNyLjnZJFF-Gn/view?usp=sharing
Great Video man 👏❤
Dan, it is fantastic that Aubameyang has re signed with Arsenal, because the alternative was to sell him, bring in a replacement striker at high cost and somehow replace the 29 goals Aubameyang scored in all competitions. Hopefully this season more players will contribute to the scoreboard.
The question which remains unanswered is why did the negotions take so long? Unfortunately by dragging it out and making the announcement after the first game of the new season, the Arsenal management has appeared to (with intent) distract supporters from concerns of the lack of action in reducing the squad and bringing in upgraded players. Just imagine how well Arsenal’s forward line, including Aubameyang can do with a balanced midfield assisting them?
Yeah mate that’s my theory
It took longer because Raul was in charge of his contract ,obviously he was
Moved on and the contract was put on hold until the reshuffle was complete ,this is what I read on a report on sky sports 2 weeks ago .
Great write up👍
Thanks for the video
Trusting Auba to do more for Arsenal.
Up Gunners.
Top notch, Dan and I love the video!
My fave ever Auba goal was in it – his 2nd against the spuds (4-2). That is one game which will be on my Sky planner forevermore 😊
Auba’s smile is so infectious… I can’t wait to watch more and more of his goals and celebrations (plus your videos 😉)….and who knows he may even top Henry?!
Ooh to be…..
That smile alone is worth an improved deal. It literary brightens my day.
We are always blaming our club for giving leverage to our players by allowing contracts to run down. But isn’t it possible that the players and their representatives are smart also and want the best deal possible?
It’s not like they will just sign with any terms we give them because they have two years left in their contracts.
A player of Mr Arsenal caliber who is a guaranteed starter for any team in existence will always have the club meet his demands and not the other way round.
That Goal against Leicester is, I guess the best play-out from the back goal during Emery’s reign. Simply beautiful!
Various thoughts on the subject: Firstly , another wonderful article and enjoyable video DAN.
Secondly, as a theatre person, I flatter myself that I can easily recognise genuine joy and relief and spot a player acting that part. And SOME do act, incredibly and kiss the badge but are merely going through the motions.
Auba though, was undoubtedly over the moon when his signing was announced. That constant laugh and smiling was totally genuine and showed his warm, even childlike personality.
That”childlike” is not an insult but a compliment to him. No wonder he is popular in the dressing room. He is very like Wrighty in that he wears his heart on his sleeve and that is a great thing, as it is honest and shows he likes being liked. What could be more normal than that!
His class as a player cannot be denied and no one on here does. HOW COULD THEY!
He has scarcely missed a game for injury since joining us and being a rangy, slim build, is unlikely to lose his speed for some time. Similar in that regard to Vardy.
I am sure that deep down he never wanted to leave BUT would have done, had Arteta not persuaded him that better times for the team lie close ahead and that he can and most probably WILL become a HUGE Arsenal legend.
Not just a normal and too easily bestowed “legend” but a REAL one in the Dennis, Thierry, Tony, Patrick level. NO NEED TO MENTION ANY OF THEIR SURNAMES.