Arsenal: Aubameyang or Malcom; Production or potential?

Arsenal have been strongly linked with both Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Malcom as possible Alexis Sanchez replacements. While both players offer unique and differing prospects, the question of who would be the wiser addition, though, is a simple, philosophical one: Production or potential?

Alexis Sanchez is seemingly set to leave Arsenal in the coming days. He was dropped to the bench in midweek against Chelsea; he was dropped from the squad altogether for the 2-1 loss to Bournemouth on Sunday. They were the signs. Arsene Wenger shined the light on them.

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In his pre-match interview at Vitality Stadium, Wenger admitted that he chose to leave Sanchez at home because of the growing and engulfing transfer saga. In the midst of the controversy and uncertainty, it made sense. In his post-match interview, Wenger stated that a decision would be imminent, with Sanchez leaving or staying in the next 48 hours. Sanchez, ostensibly, will leave in the coming days.

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The question for Arsenal then becomes one of recruitment, not retention. Wenger himself has stated that the club will have to sign ‘top quality’ players if and when Alexis and the mirroring Mesut Ozil depart. So in Sanchez’s probable exit, who has Wenger seemingly highlighted as the individuals capable of replicating the Chilean’s influence?

Well, the most prominently mentioned name is 20-year-old Malcom. The young Brazilian, who plays in a struggling Bordeaux team in the French league, has established his talent with a series of impressive displays, recording seven goals and five assists in just 1552 minutes of Ligue 1 football.

The other name that has arisen more recently is Borussia Dortmund attacker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The Gabon international was suspended from the playing squad this weekend due to disciplinary issues, with many making the link with a possible move to North London, including respected German football journalist Lee Price. Now, it remains to be seen which, if any, will be signed if Arsenal do need to find a successor for Sanchez in this January window, but the question of preference still needs to be pondered.

And the answer comes down to quite a simple principle: Production or potential? Aubameyang is the better of the two players. 69 goals in 78 Bundesliga games in the past two-and-a-half seasons is proof of that much. In contrast, this is only Malcom’s second senior season of any significance in any of the top-five European leagues. But age counts against the prolific centre-forward. He will be 29 next summer. His prime has well and truly be entered. It will not be around for all that long. Malcom, on the other hand, has the world at his somewhat tricky feet.

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There is not really a wrong answer here. Both would be astute additions that will help ease the start of the post-Sanchez era. It is a question of philosophy. For that reason, I expect to see Malcom, not Aubameyang, fielded in Sanchez’s stead this season.