Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang announced his international retirement on Wednesday, and while his decision to step away from the Gabon national side may signal the end of an era, it may not necessarily be for the worst.
Gabonese striker Pierre-EmerickAubameyang failed to find the back of the net as his Barcelona side lost 1-0 at home to Rayo Vallecano in the Spanish La Liga on Sunday. Alvaro Garcia scored the only goal of the match as early as the seventh minute. The early goal turned out to be the winning goal as Barcelona were condemned to a third successive defeat at home in all competitions.
The winner from Garcia took his tally to six goals and three assists in the Spanish league this season. His goal ensured that Rayo Vallecano moved closer to safety as far as La Liga football is concerned. With the away win, Rayo Vallecano have ten more points than Granada who are third from bottom with five games left to play in the division.
Pierre-EmerickAubameyang was on target again for Barcelona as they needed an injury time goal from Dutch substitute Luuk De Jong to secure a 3-2 win at Levante in the Spanish La Liga last week.
Gabonese striker Pierre-EmerickAubameyang has been in very good form since he left Arsenal to join Barcelona as a free agent. Auba had more than one year left on his Gunners deal, but he was able to leave the North Londoners after his contract was cancelled thus paving the way for him to sign for Barcelona as a free agent. Pierre-EmerickAubameyang has been sidelined from the Arsenal starting XI for over a month before he joined Barcelona. He has ten goals plus one assist in 14 matches in all competitions including eight goals plus one assist in nine Spanish La Liga matches. Also, Aubameyang has scored twice in five Europa League outings in the colours of Barcelona.
Spanish giants Barcelona are through to the quarterfinals of this season's Europa League campaign after they saw off Turkish Super League side Galatasaray in their round of 16 tie. Gabonese international Pierre-EmerickAubameyang scored the winning goal to propel Barcelona to a 2-1 comeback win over their Turkish opponents. Barcelona were able to book their place in the last eight of the competition thanks to the 2-1 aggregate win over Galatasaray.
New Barcelona signing Pierre-EmerickAubameyang was on a three-match scoring run before the Spanish La Liga trip to face Elche last weekend and the Gabonese international was looking to find the back of the net for the fourth game in a row in all competitions. In the end, Pierre-EmerickAubameyang was largely kept quiet by the Elche rearguard as his three-game scoring run came to an end.
Al NassrFC of Saudi Arabia have shown an interest in signing Pierre-EmerickAubameyang from Arsenal. Sky Sports revealed that the Saudi Arabian club have made an offer for the Gabonese international.
Al Nassr were said to have made an offer to take Pierre-EmerickAubameyang on loan from the Gunners until the end of this season with an obligation to sign him. It had earlier been disclosed that Arsenal will consider offers for Aubameyang who has 18 months left on his Arsenal contract. The former A.C. Milan and Borussia Dortmund attacking talent put pen to paper on a new three-year deal at Arsenal at the start of last season, but he has not been able to show the form that made him one of the most feared strikers in the Premier League before he signed the new Arsenal contract in the summer of 2020.
Gabonese striker Pierre-EmerickAubameyang won't be in the Arsenal squad for the New Year's Day clash with Manchester City in the Premier League. Hosts Arsenal take on holders Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium and Pierre-EmerickAubameyang would be a major absentee for the game. The ex-AC Milan and Saint Etienne striker won't be available for the game as he has decided to join the Gabon squad early ahead of the 2021 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in five cities across Cameroon.
Pierre-EmerickAubameyang has made the decision to join Gabon for the AFCON tournament earlier than expected after he was frozen out of the Arsenal squad over the last three weeks.
Arsenal skipper Pierre-EmerickAubameyang has been finding things hard in front of goal in recent weeks. The Gabonese international star has now gone seven games without a goal in the league.
Aubameyang began this season in decent form with seven goals in eight games in all competitions and four goals in six league starts and one substitute appearance. Since he scored against Aston Villa in October, Aubameyang have gone over half a dozen games without finding the back of net and his form played a big part in him being dropped for the Premier League clash at Everton on Monday night.
Arsenal are one of the most in-form teams in the Premier League after they saw off stubborn Watford at the weekend to take their winning run to three games in the competition.
Watford arrived at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday with a two-point cushion over the relegation zone and they were keen to frustrate London rivals Arsenal in the bid to leave with one point at least. Arsenalcame into the game on the back of a three-match winning run in all competitions and a two-match winning run in Premier League terms.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is expected to make some changes to his starting XI for the visit of Leeds United in the Carabao Cup.
Arsenal and Leeds United meet at the Emirates Stadium in the fourth round of the competition to determine who will make it through to the next round. The winner will secure a place in the quarterfinals.
Some first team players such as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Thomas Partey could make way from the usual starting XI for the Leeds United game as Arteta gives some of the fringe players an opportunity to shine. Ghanaian international Partey was one of the best players on the pitch as Arsenal beat Aston Villa at home in the first of their two league outings this season.
