Seven January transfer windows ago, Arsenal were in desperate search of a new talisman to spearhead their attack.
Arsène Wenger secured what was then a club-record signing, bringing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to North London from Borussia Dortmund for £56 million.
The much-adored Gabon international had scored nearly 150 goals over five seasons for the German giants—exactly the firepower the Gunners needed.
On the final day of the transfer window, Arsenal also made room in their attacking ranks, selling Olivier Giroud to Chelsea for just £18 million.
Switching back to Aubameyang—one of the world’s top strikers at the time—he admitted to being overwhelmed by the last-minute move. Speaking to Sky Sports, the 2015 African Footballer of the Year said:
“I’m really happy to be here in this great team. The club has such a big history and great players like Thierry Henry. He’s an example for us strikers. I’m fast and I score goals too, like Henry, a little bit.”
He also acknowledged the work ahead if he was to match Henry’s legacy:
“I think I have to work a lot to be like him, but I will do.”
And he pledged to help Arsenal reclaim their place at the top of the Premier League:
“I hope that we will come back to the top as soon as possible. I will do my best to join in.”
Wenger was equally optimistic about his new acquisition, saying as quoted by Goal:
“Yes, it is good news. We need people who can give us more offensive power. At the moment, we aren’t moving forward, and I am convinced he will give us that.”
Aubameyang’s arrival couldn’t have come sooner. Just the day before, Arsenal suffered a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Swansea City, a team that would eventually face relegation at the end of the season.
The Gunners were crying out for a reliable goalscorer, and Aubameyang delivered immediately. He scored on his debut in early February as Arsenal demolished Everton 5-1 at the Emirates—a standout performance in what was otherwise a lacklustre season for Wenger.
By April, Aubameyang had already netted five goals in six league appearances, including a brace against Stoke City in a 3-0 win. No Arsenal player in history—not even Thierry Henry or Ian Wright—had ever scored five goals so quickly in their opening games.
Aubameyang ended the 2017/18 campaign with 10 Premier League goals despite joining mid-season, and he became Arsenal’s top scorer for the next two seasons.
In 2018/19, the Gabonese striker shared the Premier League Golden Boot with Liverpool’s Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah, all tied on 22 goals. Aubameyang scored an impressive 31 goals across all competitions that season, including a crucial hat-trick against Valencia in the Europa League semi-final first leg, which Arsenal won 3-1.
The following season, Aubameyang was once again pivotal, not just in the league but also in Arsenal’s FA Cup triumph—Mikel Arteta’s first trophy as manager. Although he finished as runner-up in the Premier League Golden Boot race with 22 goals, narrowly behind Leicester’s Jamie Vardy (23), it was in the FA Cup where he truly shone.
In the semi-final, Aubameyang scored twice as Arsenal defeated holders Manchester City 2-0. In the final against Chelsea, he turned the game around, scoring both the equaliser and the winner as Arsenal lifted the trophy with a 2-1 victory at Wembley.
Despite his heroics, Aubameyang’s Arsenal career began to decline after the 2019/20 season.
At the start of the 2020/21 campaign, he scored the decisive penalty in the Community Shield shootout against Liverpool following a 1-1 draw. However, that proved to be a rare bright spot. Although he managed a Premier League hat-trick against Leeds United in February 2021, his form and discipline came under scrutiny.
By December 2021, after a series of disciplinary breaches, Mikel Arteta decided it was time for Aubameyang to move on. On 1 February 2022, his Arsenal chapter came to an end as he joined Barcelona.
While he showed flashes of brilliance in Spain, his prolific days were behind him. In July 2024, at 35 years old, Aubameyang joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Qadsiah, where he continues to play.
For Arsenal fans, he will always be remembered as the electric striker who carried the team through some of their most challenging seasons, delivering goals and unforgettable moments.
Liam Harding
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Prime Auba in this current team would be absolutely lethal.
Aubameyang’s playing style only worked well when Arteta played counter-attacking football, where he didn’t need to press a lot and didn’t have to be good in tight spaces
I’ll never forget Aubameyang’s heroic effort that made us win an FA Cup trophy, but he’s shown that Arteta’s high-ball-possession tactics need a different CF type that can be a high-pressing machine and do good hold-up play
OT – Rodgers has confirmed that Tierney will be joining Celtic in the Summer.
BB – glad to see that we will have Kieren until the end of this campaign, I think we may still see many minutes with him wearing the famous shirt.
What a professional footballer he is.
On to the article and, in pointing out what an excellent buy he was, I do believe it was Gazidis who had the final say regarding transfers by this time.
Although Arsene would have been involved, I’m sure it was announced that Gazidis was responsible.
I agree! We would barely receive any fee this month should he had been sold, so it’s actually more valuable to keep him until the summer.
I loved this signing, and it’s such a shame his Arsenal career was destroyed by injuries. It’s crazy that we have about 5/6 players that can play at LB, and they’ve all had injury problems.
We won’t receive any fee either way as he’s out of contract in the summer and Arsenal will not trigger the 1 year extension.
That’s what I’ve read .
So another player let go for nothing .
Would have been impossible to sell anyway because of his injury record, so it’s always been out of Arsenal’s hands.
All of the other players Arsenal let go for nothing, it was more of less the same story, and I am struggling to think of a single one that went onto bigger and better things, bar a VERY short period for Auba at Barcelona, before returning to England and proving that Arteta was correct about him.
Maybe that signing was the last we see of a striker because Mikel thinks he can win the quadrable without a CF even after 5 years of results speaking the opposite.
Feel sorry for PEA, the way he was treated when his mom was ill, will never forgive Mikel for being so inhuman and spelling the doom for our best forward after TH. Nevertheless joining Barca was a good deal for him, he tasted the Spanish league victory which he would never do with Mikel even if he stayed for 5 years.
Didn’t he get his big pay rise, was given the Captain’s armband by Arteta and then went down hill faster than his Lamborghini? Even the honour of captaining his club wasn’t enough to halt his poor time keeping. That also included returning from a trip granted by Arteta to visit his ailing mother.
It’s funny how recollections vary
Lets discuss pay rise. Mikel has been given a pay rise too. That to be the second most paid manager in current football. And what is is going to win this season> Top 4 Trophy?
Visiting his ailing mum is a crime? And coming a morning late due to her medical treatment?
Lets not put Mikel on the alter for pseudo worship , he achieved nothing as a player and nothing as a manager for this great club over 100 years old. Period!
Why are you deflecting? It’s you who is putting a bloke who hired a private jet to get to Barcelona to force through a move that’s in the realms of pseudo worship. Period
My mistake
Auba was made captain by Emery but continued under Arteta
With due respect SueP, when the club represented by Mikel, hurt him because of his ailing mum, the lad was hurt beyond repair and had to leave the club to heal the emotional wounds. So, going to Barca in a private jet can be understood by those who understand emotions. Mikel is having an armature mentality, not that of a seasoned manager, he cannot handle personalities, hence we see misfits and flops at the club in abundance. Cross your heart and tell me, 800M is not enough to have a title wining squad or at least win the EFL?
What are/were the likes of Lokonga, Viera, Runar, Marquinos, Havertz, Willian, Sterling, Kiwor, Luiz, Cedric, Jorginho, doing in our club? Disrespect to the toil and memories of our past players/heroes. Except for Odegard and Thomas Partey, each and every signing of Mikel was/is/becoming a disaster.
TSRS
Arteta’s ability as a player is not relevant as Wenger wasn’t half as successful on the field of play and he is a legend at Arsenal
I’m as hard as nails then regarding PEA’s emotional wounds. He was allowed to visit his mother and missed 2 matches. To my knowledge, he had no permission to travel given by the club. He was contracted to Arsenal, the club that we both support, and you are more concerned about his future happiness.
The subject of the money spent has to be put into context. Yes, it’s a lot – a huge sum. To compete at the top you either have to buy your way into the top tier – City and Chelsea for example or have already been in a position of strength- Utd and Arsenal. Liverpool took a very long time to get back to the top tier and Utd are proving that maintaining top4 status is difficult Even City took a while to get there and that was buying our best players and those from elsewhere too. Other teams just below are now investing heavily to compete such as Forest and Villa. Those that can’t invest heavily will do well but probably not be able to sustain those levels (Bournemouth or Brighton) long term.
I’m certainly not saying that all Arteta’s signings are good. You listed some that are not good enough (Luiz was signed by Emery) and I agree with you. What I cannot agree on is that only 2 signings in your view have been worth it.
I’ve crossed MY heart, closed my eyes and, guess what?!
We’re second in the toughest league in europe and about to qualify for the next stage of the CL!!
How on earth does MA do it and if he’s the disaster you say he is, how would you describe the managers and players below us?
👍ken1945. Nice to read this spot on rational perspective.
2016 we finished second and some fans complained against the greatest manager in our history and questioned the Koronke Family
9 years later we are second and it’s acceptable?
Koronke Family have a genius business model
In 2016 Dan, life, let alone football was different.
We had a core of Arsenal fans who wanted Arsene out and saw negativity ar every corner.
Today, we have a core of Arsenal fans who want Mikel out and see negativity at every corner.
The grass is always greener is what I would say to both of those sets of fans, wouldn’t you?
ken1945. When the grass finally dies and they are proven right all along, they simply go to where the grass is greener and predict it will turn brown as well.
Your metaphor doesn’t work
I said when Mr Wenger leaves we would regress and only then appreciate what a hard job he did working for this owners ( even Ken would defend me on this )
I said we won’t win the league under these owners and so far I’m correct
So it’s these owners proving me correct
I have stuck my that and never moved
Fact our club needs a striker and you don’t see the irony of you thinking the grass has burnt ?
Well played Koronke family
And you know Ken full well I defended Wenger so again ….a debate tactic
I’m not agreeing with you so …your not a fan , your negative , etc
Why not just respect my opinion because to be fair until we win the title under this ownership , my point is valid
So you would admit you have been wrong hundreds if not thousands of times in previous comments if we just won a league title or just got those additional two points last season? Forgive me for being skeptical.
Yes if we win the league under the Koronke Family I would admit we have won the league under the Koronke Family lol
Like if we win the league under Arteta I would admit I was wrong because factually I would be wrong lol
That’s obvious
But it depends on your age
Stan Koronke joined our board in 2006 and essentially had serious power since 2011
So hasn’t shown ambition for 14 years
An ambitious owner has a striker by January 1st and I can give you so many examples
Some will be old enough to remember us being top one Xmas with Almunia in goal right and the fanbase said just get us a gk in Jan
We offered for Swazer and Middleborough said our offer was so low it was insulting
But they know they have the likes of you who will be positive no matter what
As a business it’s genius
Why buy a striker if fans are going to be positive for being second ?
Because the Auba angle to slamming Arteta has been effectively and easily obliterated by you SueP.
BB
In spite of what people think, by backing Arteta it doesn’t mean that his every move is right. Like Ken1945 above points out though, we are in 2nd and likely to qualify tonight in the CL with a manager that isn’t good enough for a number of supporters. We know what we’ve got with Arteta now. I like Iraola – he’s doing a great job but none of us know if signing him would win us the league. Grass appearing to be greener doesn’t always work out
SueP. I especially love your comment regarding Iraola – That’s called having an open mind to the possibilities as well as having an opinion. They do not need to be mutually exclusive.
FA Cup
5 days to go and still no signing or concrete link to a striker.
I’m starting to think we won’t sign anyone this window.
Another fruitless season.
We go again next season. 😂
PEA was a nice bloke but everything went downhill after he was given that £250k-a-week deal.
OT: Michael Oliver has been removed from our game vs City. Looks like hating does work 😂
The club didn’t learn the lesson of giving out grotesque and ridiculous contracts and they have done it again with Havertz.
How long before we see a nine and a half year contract at a reported £500,000 a week at our club?
Give it a rest, Ken. Why don’t you try looking beyond simple numbers to actually see all the positives work Havertz does. Yes, he misses a lot of chances but he isn’t a striker and he is probably exhausted. No one in the team covers more turf than Havertz but we still expect him to be a penalty box predator as well as leading the press. It’s just not a realistic expectation.
Aubameyang wouldn’t be able to play in this team at all let alone do the work that Havertz does and the only reason this system works at all is because of Havertz. I know it’s a novel idea but have you tried supporting our players rather than just constantly stating what a waste of money they are. You should give it a go, it’s really quite liberating.
Oh, and I don’t know if you’d noticed, Ken but Havertz is also our top scorer and has equalled his goal contributions from last season in 20 fewer games. So, you know maybe get some perspective because I am telling you there are very few players who could do better in this team with what is required of him in that role.
Ben, please just read my post again and tell me where I have had a go at Havertz the player?!
I’m saying that he cost too much, he’s paid to much and that’s what I believe.
When he was being tipped to sign for the club, I was one of the few who said give him a chance and the only time I’ve questioned him, was when he misses those golden opportunities against Wolves.
No wonder Dan gets frustrated at some on here, when people don’t read what is being said and then proceed to have a go without any idea what they’re having a go about.
Fair enough and you’re right, Ken, it was actually Derek who was laying into Havertz in the Transfer Window thread, so I retract my statement and offer you an apology.
I agree with you about transfer and salary figures, it has got completely out of hand and I think it’s time they introduce a worldwide salary cap for each team, much like they do in US sports. This is the only way to protect the integrity of the sport.
FFP doesn’t work because as we have seen with Newcastle it only protects the teams at the top and prevents any real contest to the status quo of the elite. Much fairer to put an arbitrary maximum figure of funds that can be allocated to salaries across the entire 23 or 25 man squad. That way if teams want to pay stupid money for one player it will be to the detriment of the team elsewhere.
There might be a better way of doing this but I can’t think of it. Something must be done though otherwise we end up with charades like at MU where ordinary people are getting laid off so Marcus Rashford can pocket £300k per WEEK for sitting on his arse.
Ken
Many years ago Jimmy hill god rest his sole said we will see the first £100k player being bought . Trevor francis went for £1m and there was a big gulp.We are now in the bracket of £100m plus
Same goes for for wages. It will never stop and just become the norm.
Just heard a bayern player moving to Saudi his wages allegedly being £38k to £380k per week …nice
As for Aubes, good player for us at the time and shame he never became a legend. He did not want to fit in or the manager didn’t want him to fit in but that’s football and you move on.
Onwards and upwards
AS THINGS STANDS.
Havertz.
Trossard. Odegaard. Martinelli.
Rice. Partey.
Skelly. Gabriel. Saliba. Timber.
Raya.
BACK UPS –
???????.
Sterling. ????????. Nwaneri.
Merino. Jorginho.
Zinchenko. Calafiori. Kiwior. White.
Neto.
We are very short upfront with no back up for Havertz and Odegaard.
And that is why Jonathan David should be the number priority purchase during this window. He is the only striker from the ones we have been linked with who has the work ethic to adequately cover for Havertz.