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Who is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and what will he bring to Arsenal?

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is in talks with Arsenal over a move to the Premier League - AFP or licensors
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is in talks with Arsenal over a move to the Premier League - AFP or licensors

As Arsenal continue talks over a £50m move for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, long-suffering fans will be anxious to know how the so-called 'bad boy' of the Bundesliga will shape up as Alexis Sanchez's replacement. 

Sanchez's imminent departure will inevitably leave a gaping hole in a squad that already looks increasingly thread-bare, so can a player of Aubameyang's stature bring a sprinkle of much-needed star quality to Arsenal's season?

Goals

Arsenal's failings in front of goal have been glaringly obvious so far this season, with club-record signing Alexandre Lacazette currently on a run of eight Premier League games without scoring. 

Aubameyang, on the other hand, has endured no such trouble this season, scoring 13 times and providing three assists in 15 league appearances.

Last season the 28-year-old played a crucial role in Dortmund's cup-winning campaign, scoring 31 goals in 31 appearances to become only the second African player to win two German golden boots after Tony Yeboah. 

Europe's top goalscorers since 2013

Besides his proven ability as a finisher, one of Aubameyang's strongest assets is his lightning-quick pace and fleet-footed agility.

His speed means he is just as comfortable playing out wide in a front three or through the middle as a lone striker -  positional versatility that could ease the loss of Sanchez and Theo Walcott.

Aubameyang  - Credit: AFP 
Aubameyang was beaten to this year's African Player of the Year award by Mohamed Salah Credit: AFP

“When I was with the Milan youth teams I ran 30 metres in 3.9sec, that was official, but I’ve run it in 3.7sec too,” Aubameyang claimed after Usain Bolt has taken 3.78 seconds to reach 30m in his world-breaking run during the 2009 World Championships in Berlin. 

While Wenger has admitted Lacazette has struggled to adapt to the physicality of the Premier League since his £52m move from France, Aubameyang's natural power and acceleration make him a more natural fit for the rigours of English football. 

Controversy 

Arsenal's new head of recruitment, Sven Mislintat - who helped bring Aubameyang to Borussia Dortmund in 2013 after spells at AC Milan and St Etienne - has insisted the club would not be getting a 'bad boy', but the 28-year-old is no stranger to controversy. 

In April last year he celebrated scoring a goal by wearing a superhero mask that was manufactured by his boot sponsor, Puma, as part of a PR stunt. 

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang  - Credit: Getty Images 
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang attempts to dispossess David Beckham during his time at St Etienne Credit: Getty Images

Dortmund club captain called Aubameyang 'stupid' for indulging in the stunt but then manager Thomas Tuchel once pleaded with the German media to ease up the Gabonese striker, describing him as 'a sensitive human being'. 

“Such a sensitive human being like Auba is affected when so much is said and written about him, even if he has himself to blame,” Tuchel said.

Earlier this season Aubayemang was dropped from Dortmund's squad to play Schalke after turning up late for training on three separate occasions. 

He also irritated the club's hierarchy after appearing in television programme with football freestyler Sean Garnier, without the club's consent.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang  - Credit: Reuters 
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in action for Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League Credit: Reuters

Dortmund's patience with the striker seems to have finally snapped after he was dropped for Dortmund's 1-1 draw with Wolfsburg last weekend for an unspecified breach of discipline. 

"We simply cannot tolerate this kind of behaviour,” said the club's sporting director, Michael Zorc. 

“I don’t know what’s going on in his head right now. He has always been a professional. I don’t want to take part in media speculation, but we can’t continue like this anymore.”  

Aside from his goalscoring feats the Gabonese striker is arguably most well known for his elaborate celebrations.

In 2013 he pulled a Spiderman mask from behind advertising billboards during a French league game after scoring for Saint-Etienne against Rennes.

Aubameyang said the superhero homage was a tribute to his team-mate and goalkeeper, Jeremie Janot, who had recently left the club: "We miss Jeremie Janot in the dressing room, so I just wanted to make a small dedication to him."

The Dortmund forward also once wore of a pair of lime-green Swarovski crystal-encrusted football boots worth £2,500 during a pre-match warm-up while at Saint-Etienne.

Leadership

Despite his colourful antics on and off the field, the Gabon international is well respected by team-mates.  

“Auba is someone who works very hard,”  said Marco Reus, who once joined his team-mate for their famous Batman & Robin celebration.

“But he never loses his relaxed mood because of it.”

Highly-rated Dortmund winger Christian Pulisic recently hailed the controversial's striker's leadership qualities. 

"Aubameyang is a leader, a big player for us and we love having him here and would love to have him here for a long time," said USA international Pulisic.

"Off the field he is just a good guy, always ready to have a laugh. But he knows when he needs to be serious. He is just a really good teammate.

"I have learned a lot from him by just being around him in training and picking up small things. Obviously he is a great player and it is great to have him here.

"He creates the music in the dressing room. He is the DJ, but I want to have that job (of providing the music) but for now he stays in charge."