Arsenal: Where are the Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang character concerns?

When Arsenal signed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund, there were whispers that he was a difficult character to handle. But does anyone know where they are? Because I am yet to see them.

Quite how Arsenal signed one of the most prolific centre-forwards of his generation, proven in a top-five European league, in the Champions League, and in the prime of his career for less than £60 million, I will never really know. But when they signed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund two years ago, that is precisely what they did.

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One of the potential explanations for this cut-price deal was that Aubameyang was a problem in the dressing room, such that Dortmund were desperate to sell, even for a fee below market value, and that other teams did not rival the Gunners for his signature.

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That may or may not be true. But since his arrival in north London, the whispers of character concerns have been resoundingly disproven. Not only has Aubameyang not been a problem in the dressing room, never causing friction or complaining or publicly making it all about him and his flashy style; he has actively been a positive contributor to the culture of and atmosphere within the club.

When Alexandre Lacazette returned from injury, Aubameyang handed him a penalty so that he could score his first goal after a period of poor form. Aubameyang was on a hat-trick at the time. He did the same last weekend for new signing Nicolas Pepe, who was clearly striving for a goal, perhaps a little too eagerly. And then there is how he has handled the plethora of young attackers breaking into the squad.

His manner leading an 18-year-old, 19-year-old and 20-year-old in a front four against Eintracht Frankfurt was wonderful. He did not get frustrated when they failed to find him. He showed them how to play the striker position in more ways than just scoring goals. He was encouraging, constructive, and positive at all times. A lesser individual would not have shown the same patience.

Then read this story in Globo Esporte from Gabriel Martinelli, who arrived at the club this summer:

"“I arrived for lunch on the first day. I’m eating there, Aubameyang arrives and sits next to me, speaking Portuguese to me, ‘tudom ben?’ (‘all right?’), trying to communicate. You see, the guy [is] so good [and] humble. I was like, ‘Man, Aubameyang, who I saw on the TV, came to talk to me!’ He’s also a guy who gave me a lot of support at the club, trying to communicate with me.”"

For all of his brilliance on the pitch — and make no mistake, Aubameyang has been brilliant on it, scoring 16 goals in his last 16 games extending into last season — the centre-forward has now stepped up off it as well. He is taking his responsibility as a veteran player seriously. He is a positive influence on those around. He is leading by voice and action. He is doing everything that someone with character problems would not.

Maybe Aubameyang did have issues with his commitment and his teamwork. Perhaps he was difficult to handle at times, a little showboaty and flashy. But since coming to Arsenal, he has been anything but. In fact, he has been the very opposite, a total and utter model professional.