Arsenal: 4 players impacted by Folarin Balogun contract

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

There are a few events that need to take place before the impact on Aubameyang is fully felt. However, working on the basis that Lacazette departs and Arsenal are left with three centre-forwards – one without any experience and one without regular minutes in the position – the Aubameyang left-winger insistence may finally be put to bed.

It has worked on occasion. The key words being ‘on occasion’.

This is a striker whose bread and butter is scoring goals, something he’d done throughout his career. Questions are asked of his commitment yet any striker who made his name as a centre-forward being asked to perform tasks outside of his skillset and in positions he certainly will not want to play for the sake of the team dispels that notion.

If Balogun signing makes way for Lacazette to leave then Aubameyang will be the undisputed first choice striker for the coming campaign. Being 32 come that time, he is wasted being thrust into wide areas to act as a left midfielder or even a left wing-back, when his strengths are in between the perimeters of the penalty box.

Another striker comes in and it restructures the debate, granted. Yet with age not on his side and the other option in the position potentially leaving, we can hope it signals Aubameyang at centre-forward regularly.