Arsenal: Aubameyang already making fans forget Olivier Giroud

With the sales of Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud in recent weeks, Arsenal fans haven’t had had an emotional downer, but Aubameyang aims to change that.

Olivier Giroud was sold to Chelsea in January for a measly £18 million. Arsenal has “replaced” him with lethal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. But is this replacement supposed to help us “forget” Giroud?

With the departures of Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud, you could say Arsenal fans were losing the equivalent of a superstar and two close friends. Even with Henrikh Mkhitaryan, there was still a deal of pessimism. Then came the news that the club had signed Borussia Dortmund hitman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The fans rejoiced world-wide, and, despite the sorrow over the Giroud departure, there was reason to look forward. With Aubameyangs performance against Everton, its easy to see why everyone is hyped over the Gabon international.

Olivier Giroud has been a faithful, loyal and dutiful servant to Arsenal Football Club. When news broke that the club was brokering a deal with Chelsea, fans were not too pleased. Chelsea was in the market for a tall, strong and “plan B” kind of striker.

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In Giroud, you have that and more. They were linked with the like of Andy Carroll and Peter Crouch as well. Which for any Premier League champion club is quite baffling. With Giroud you have a brutish, no holds bar kind of striker who is willing to throw his head at an incoming ball, and establish crucial position in the box.

Could Giroud have finished the chance that Aubameyang had? Maybe, but he wouldn’t have been in that kind of position to make that run. Giroud is a target man, someone to look for when launching long balls or just to get a layoff. Giroud has saved the Gunners on many occasions with his headers or his cannon of a left foot. His goals against Leicester City and Southampton saved them from even more dropped points.

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With Arsenal’s singing of Aubameyang, it shows that Arsene Wenger wants firepower. Wenger is starting to field a side that will outscore the opponent rather than try to defend.

Aubameyang’s first contribution came with a delightfully weighted chip over the onrushing Jordan Pickford. That performance Saturday night against Everton made fans dream and get excited about the next game. Their new striker showed signs of Thierry Henry, with his willingness to take players on, as well as to play off the shoulders of the last defender. His goal comes from a wonderful passing move and just a sublime ball to played into him.

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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has come to the Emirates and claimed it. Though Aubameyang isn’t the target man or the skillful player full of tricks, he’s more the pacey, clinical finisher that this this club desperately needed upfront. They have been missing a player of his quality and skills since the days of Thierry Henry. Hopefully, Aubameyang will be upfront, to terrorize the Tottenham back line next weekend.