Sport
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s Chelsea transfer now looking like a mistake for all parties
Eight touches is all Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could muster before he was hooked by Graham Potter after 64 minutes of Chelsea’s home defeat to Arsenal. The 33-year-old spent the rest of the match watching from the Stamford Bridge bench as his former club claimed another win to take them back to the top of the Premier League table.
Aubameyang surely feels some regret over how 2022 has panned out for him. Arsenal are now in a much better place following his departure in January while a transfer to Barcelona resulted in him staying only six months at the Camp Nou. Now at Chelsea, Aubameyang looks a misfit there too.
Of course, Aubameyang was signed by the Blues while Thomas Tuchel was still manager. The pair had worked together, and achieved success together, at Borussia Dortmund and the idea was that Aubameyang would be a short-term solution as the centre forward Tuchel needs to spark his attack into life.
However, Tuchel left Chelsea just one week after Aubameyang arrived and Graham Potter wants more from his centre forward than the 33-year-old can offer at this late stage of his career. His underwhelming performance against Arsenal could see Aubameyang placed on the bench for the foreseeable future.
It should be mentioned that Potter isn’t just struggling to get the best out of Aubameyang. Indeed, the new Chelsea manager has yet to find the right attacking formula for his team with Kai Havertz, Mason Mount and Raheem Sterling all struggling for consistent form. But Aubameyang is suffering the most acute problems.
While many focus on the lack of service to Aubameyang in Chelsea’s recent matches, the Gabonese striker is also guilty of failing to read the movement of his teammates to get into areas of the pitch where he can have an influence. In possession, there are also concerns over the 33-year-old’s ability in build-up.
There’s no doubting Aubameyang’s ability. Even in his short spell at Barcelona, he demonstrated his natural knack for finding the back of the net, scoring 13 goals in just 24 appearances for the Catalans. Had Xavi Hernandez not been obsessed with the notion of signing Robert Lewandowski, Aubameyang would likely still be at the Camp Nou as an important player.
Potter has publicly praised Aubameyang for his attitude since his arrival at Chelsea, dispelling some misconceptions about the veteran striker that have been allowed to fester after his exit from Arsenal and falling out with Mikel Arteta. “I think you should treat people how you find them and not pre-judge,” said the Blues boss.
“He’s a quiet guy, so maybe the outside thinks he’s this loud, flashy person but he’s not. We have found him really quiet, really humble, nice person who wants to support the team. He has been really respectful all the time. His taste in cars is a bit different to mine and his taste in clothing is a little different to mine, but I’d like to think we’ve got some similarities as well.”
Recent reports claim Chelsea will make a move for RB Leipzig striker Christopher Nkunku as Potter searches for the right attacker to lead the line for his new team. Nkunku is the perfect modern centre forward and would offer the Blues plenty in all areas of the game. He could be exactly what Potter and Chelsea need.
Until such a time that Chelsea are able to sign a new centre forward, though, Potter might have no choice but to use Aubameyang. There aren’t many other options in the squad at the Stamford Bridge, certainly when it comes to out-and-out goalscorers, but there is surely regret for all parties that the situation has turned out this way.
