Arsenal: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang assurance just in time

Arsenal are reportedly closing in on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, but it has taken some reassurances from Sven Mislintat to overcome obstacle No. 1.

Arsenal’s quest to replace their wilting attack has taken them to some familiar names. One of which is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who is conveniently out of sorts with Borussia Dortmund. He is serving his second team-imposed suspension and, according to Bild he has handed in a transfer request.

Then there is General Manager MIchael Zorc, who is clearly rather jilted by the Gabonese strikers behavior, saying (as quoted by the Telegraph):

"What is going on now is not to be tolerated by the club. It is clear, it cannot go on like this. I don’t know what is going through his mind. I don’t recognise him anymore. There is trouble in the team and that is not good."

All of these things led to one big question – will these problems carry over to Arsenal? He was all wrapped up to be sold to China and make some massive wages, but that fell through. So was North London his Plan B?

That’s troubling to think about and yeah, it gave a lot of people pause. Maybe he wasn’t the right player for us.

But an assurance has come in, according to the Telegraph, and it has come in from a man that knows Aubameyan rather well – Sven Mislintat. According to the report, Mislintat has assured Arsenal that they would be getting a dedicated, hard-working player whose current issues with Dortmund do not reflect his actual character.

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It’s nice to hear this, even if we didn’t technically hear this, but honestly, it shouldn’t be necessary. Although it was a nice reminder of Aubameyang’s character, there have been plenty of reminders in the past. His team mates are constantly praising his humble character.

Ilkay Gundoagn called him a “Genuinely a polite, nice and humble guy.”

Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke, when speaking of Aubameyang after his first team-imposed suspension this year, called him a striker “who is by all accounts an amiable and humble, if ambitious young man.”

There are plenty of more examples, but you get the picture. Aubameyang has done a lot of off-the-pitch activities this year that have been frowned upon, but despite that and his flashy, Pogba-esque haircuts, there is the constant reminder that he is actually a very down to earth guy. Or at least that’s the hope. And that’s what Mislintat is supposedly assuring the club.

Next: 5 Things Learned Against Bournemouth

It’s not the clearest situation, but there is no denying that if you give the guy clearance to exert his ambition, you will get the best out of him. That’s dicey for Arsenal, but with the right investment around him, it can pay off.

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