Arsenal vs Stoke City: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to continue building legacy

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is establishing himself as a ruthless and prolific goalscorer. He can continue building on that legacy when Arsenal host Stoke City on Sunday afternoon.

When Arsenal signed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the January transfer window, it confirmed a shift in transfer philosophy. Gone were the days of scraping the barrel for talented prospects, merely hanging hats on development, rather than genuine improvement. Established, esteemed, ready-made recruits are now the name of the game.

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This shift started with Mesut Ozil. He was 24 when he signed. Alexis Sanchez, a year later, was 25. Granit Xhaka, Shkodran Mustafi and Lucas Perez, the three major additions two summers ago, had an average age of 25. Players in which their prime is now is the criteria. Aubameyang fits that criteria beautifully.

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He will turn 29 this summer. He enjoyed several blossoming yeats at St Etienne, before his booming years at Borussia Dortmund. It was during those periods that he established his character as a football player: Flamboyant off the pitch, searingly quick on it; a rippler of the net; an acrobat in his celebration. But it is in these coming years, at Arsenal, that he can proceed to define his legacy.

The start has been a positive one. He has played six games since his deadline-day move — five in the Premier League; one in the EFL Cup final. In those six games, he has scored three goals, in three separate games. The Manchester City pitfalls were only as large as his isolation, mirrored by a rather lonely outing against Spurs in the North London. But he showed signs of life against Watford, the Gunners’ most recent game.

His goal was excellent. A swerved run in behind the Watford defence. A sliding Henrikh Mkhitaryan pass. A rounding of the stranded goalkeeper and slotting into the gaping net. And, of course, a summersault to boot. This was staple Aubameyang.

That is what Arsenal will be hoping he can replicate consistently, starting on Sunday against Stoke City. Another game at home; another game in which possession will be Aubameyang’s friend, though he will look to play on the peripheries of that possession.

Some may accuse him of being a flat-track bully. It is a little too soon to draw such conclusions. But there is still a great value in those goals. While it is important that he learns to grow into and influence the big games, a win against any opponent will always yield three points, no matter their ability.

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They have signed a ready-made centre-forward. That is who Aubameyang is. He is now forging ahead to prove that he is ready to spearhead this team and his legacy beyond just a fast start.