Tag: Aubameyang

Aubameyang can thrive in Arsenal’s creative system – Riedle

he former Dortmund striker believes Arsenal’s record signing will be given the supply to score heavily by the Gunners’ ‘high-class’ creators

Marquee January signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is perfectly suited to flourish at the head of Arsenal’s attack, according to Karl-Heinz Riedle.

Riedle, who enjoyed stints with Werder Bremen, Lazio, Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund in the ’80s and ’90s, believes the the £56 million man will be well serviced by the likes of Mesut Ozil and Henrikh Mkhitaryan at the Emirates.

“He’s proved over the last few years that he is a very good player,” Riedle told Goal as part of Enterprise’s UEFA Europa League trophy surprise in Dortmund.

“Arsenal have the high-class individuals who will help him to score. So I am sure that he will do well in London.

The Gabon international wasn’t able to score against Tottenham in the north London derby, but was on target in his Premier League debut against Everton a week earlier.

“It makes an impression to the fans and the club if you make a debut like he did against Everton,” said Riedle. “But it is important to continue playing that way. When he came to Dortmund he had some problems at first but developed into a world-class player. I don’t think he is going to fail in England.”

Riedle, who also played for Liverpool between 1997 and 1999, says the Reds have the attacking power to make stronger pushes for titles in England and Europe in the coming years, too.

“It is unbelievable the kind of quality Liverpool have in attack. [Mohamed] Salah is a sensational player who nobody thought would play the way he’s playing at Liverpool right now. [Roberto] Firmino and [Sadio] Mane are also great players. There is so much potential in Liverpool’s squad.”

And that potential, Riedle says, is being led by the perfect manager.

“I think Jurgen Klopp is doing a great job at Liverpool and the fans seem to love him. He fits perfectly at the club. The team is playing great football this year even though the championship is already decided. But for the future the Premier League and Champions league should definitely be targets for the club and Klopp.”

Source: www.goal.com

Aubameyang-Mkhitaryan & football’s most telepathic partnerships

With Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang having been reunited at Arsenal, Goal looks back at other devastating pairings…

Dwight Yorke & Andy Cole (Manchester United)

First brought together early in the 1998-99 season, Dwight York and Andy Cole combined to devastating effect as Manchester United won the treble under Sir Alex Ferguson, albeit with their back-ups – Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – sealing the deal in the Champions League final.

Cole and Yorke started 36 matches together in that campaign, with the Red Devils losing on just one occasion. Between them, they scored 53 goals in all competitions and followed that up with 46 in the next campaign.

Fernando Morientes & Raul (Real Madrid & Spain)

During a period around the turn of the millennium, Fernando Morientes and Raul were one of Europe’s most feared strike pairings, with their telepathic connection up front leading the Blancos into the ‘Galactico Generation’.

Such was their close friendship, Raul was one of the witnesses at Morientes’s wedding, while after Morientes was dropped for the 2002 European Super Cup following the arrival of Ronaldo, Raul wore his great friend’s No.9 jersey as a show of solidarity.

Ian Rush & Kenny Dalglish (Liverpool)

Given his legendary status at Liverpool, it is hard to believe that Kenny Dalglish went on a 10-month scoring drought during 1981, with the Scot contemplating a move into midfield as he struggled for form in the aftermath of his 30th birthday.

That all changed when Ian Rush arrived on the scene, however, as Dalglish became more of a withdrawn forward in behind Rush, and the pair ran riot. Liverpool won the title in each of their first three campaigns together, with the deadly duo scoring 59 goals between them as the European Cup was also secured in 1983-84.

Xavi & Andres Iniesta (Barcelona & Spain)

One of the greatest midfield partnerships of all time, Xavi and Iniesta changed the way the modern game is played with their precision passing for both club and country.

Together they won four Champions League titles among a whole host of other trophies at Barcelona, as well as helping lead Spain to two European Championships and their first World Cup, in 2010.

Wim Jonk & Dennis Bergkamp (Ajax & Netherlands)

It is clear that two players have a special connection when they are both bought by the same club at exactly the same time. That was the case for Wim Jonk and Dennis Bergkamp.

The pair impressed so much together at Ajex that Inter shelled out in excess of £7 million to bring them both to San Siro in 1994. They both struggled to adapt, however, though they did continue to combine well for the Dutch national team.

Mesut Ozil & Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)

Perhaps the best foil Cristiano Ronaldo has ever had at Real Madrid, Mesut Ozil created goal after goal for the Portuguese forward during their three years together at the Santiago Bernabeu before the Germany international left for Arsenal in 2013.

Indeed, the Germany international rovided Ronaldo with 27 assists, with the pair proving integral to the Blancos winning La Liga in 2011-12 under Jose Mourinho.

Ruud Gullit & Marco van Basten (AC Milan & Netherlands)

Having impressed for the Dutch national team, Ruud Gullit and Marco Van Basten – along with compatriot Frank Rijkaard – were signed by AC Milan in 1987 and helped lead the Serie A outfit to an unprecedented period of success.

While at San Siro, yhe pair won three Scudetti and two European Cups, as well as leading the Oranje to the Euro 88 title, as they entered the 1990s as one of the best attacking duos in world football.

Frank Lampard & Didier Drogba (Chelsea)

The two attacking lynchpins upon which Chelsea have built their modern day success under Roman Abramovich, Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard were almost unstoppable in tandem.

Lampard provided assists for the Ivorian on 24 occasions in the Premier League – a record for the competition – as well as providing plenty of goals himself from midfield.

Andriy Shevchenko & Sergei Rebrov (Dynamo Kiev & Ukraine)

Absolutely electrifying in leading Dynamo Kiev to the semi-finals of the Champions League in 1999, Andriy Shevchenko and Sergei Rebrov came from nowhere to become two of Europe’s hottest properties.

They both eventually moved to pastures new, though they were reunited as Ukraine reached their first ever World Cup in 2006.

Fabio Cannavaro & Alessandro Nesta (Italy)

Having played alongside one another since their days in Italy’s under-age sides, Fabio Cannavaro and Alessandro Nesta developed into one of the best central defensive partnerships in world football.

Together they helped take the Azzurri to the final of Euro 2000, though injury did rule Nesta out of the 2006 World Cup as Cannavaro captained his country to glory.

Alfredo Di Stefano & Ferenc Puskas (Real Madrid)

Despite both being in their 30s when they were brought together in the Spanish capital, Alfredo Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas took no time in tearing up teams both at home and in Europe.

Together they won two European Cups, including the 1959-60 competition, in which the pair shared all seven goals as Eintract Frankfurt were seen off in a famous final in Scotland.

Marcelo Salas & Ivan Zamorano (Chile)

Such is the way of modern football, it is very rare nowadays to see two out-and-out No.9s partnered together up front. But, during the 1990s, Chile were able to fight above their weight due to the goalscoring exploits of Marcelo Salas and Ivan Zamorano.

Between them they scored 71 goals for their national team, though the relative lack of talent behind them stopped the duo from ever challenging for silverware.

Aubameyang completes club-record £55m move to Arsenal

After weeks of negotiations and speculation, the Gunners have finally snapped up their top target for a total of £60m

Arsenal have completed the signing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund for £55 million plus £5m in further add-ons.

Aubameyang, 28, has been subject of negotiations between the Gunners and Dortmund for several weeks, with Arsenal having refused to meet the Bundesliga side’s €70m asking price.

The striker, who scored 31 league goals last season, was left out of two consecutive games for Dortmund after missing a team meeting, with head coach Peter Stoger accusing the frontman of not being focused.

Dortmund had been keen on bringing Olivier Giroud to the Westfalenstadion as a short-term replacement for Aubameyang but the France international opted to stay in England for family reasons. Following Batshuayi and Aubameyang’s moves, Giroud could make the switch to Chelsea before the window closes.

Aubameyang joins up with former Dortmund team-mate Henrikh Mkhitaryan at Emirates Stadium after the Armenian joined in a swap deal which saw Alexis Sanchez head to Manchester United. The duo combined for 62 goals in all competitions two seasons ago.

This season, Aubameyang has scored 21 goals in 24 matches in all competitions. He has found the net 141 times since joining BVB from Saint-Etienne for €13m in July 2013, and he also has 23 goals in 56 caps for Gabon.

“Apart from the unpleasant events of recent weeks, we like to remember that the story of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at BVB for more than four years was a single success story,” sporting director Michael Zorc told Dortmund’s website.

“He has done great things for Borussia Dortmund in this time, scored many important goals and is part of the team that brought the DFB-Pokal to Dortmund in 2017. We wish Pierre-Emerick all the best for his future at Arsenal.”

He joins an Arsenal side that sit sixth in the Premier League table, five points off the pace in the race for the top four.

Arsene Wenger’s side were eliminated in their FA Cup third round meeting with Nottingham Forest earlier this month but have advanced to the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City and will face Swedish side Ostersunds in the Europa League last 32.

ARSENAL CLOSE IN ON £60M AUBAMEYANG SIGNING

The 28-year-old is set to become the Gunners’ record signing just five months after they set that mark to secure Alexandre Lacazette

Arsenal are on the verge of completing the signing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund after the clubs agreed a £60 million (€68m) fee in principle, Goal understands.

Aubameyang, 28, has been subject of negotiations between the Gunners and Dortmund for several weeks, with Arsenal having refused to meet the Bundesliga side’s €70m asking price.

Goal understands the Gabon international has already agreed personal terms with the north Londoners, with an official announcement to arrive in the coming days.

The striker, who scored 31 league goals last season, was left out of two consecutive games for Dortmund after missing a team meeting, with head coach Peter Stoger accusing the frontman of not being focused.

However, Aubameyang started in Dortmund’s draw with Freiburg on Saturdayamid claims from the Bundesliga side that a transfer would be sanctioned if Arsenal reached “certain parameters”.

“We are ready to agree a transfer under certain parameters, but only if these are fully met,” sporting director Michael Zorc told German TV.

“We have a clear position. Arsenal has made several attempts so far. We have refused them all up to now.”

Aubameyang would join up with former Dortmund team-mate Henrikh Mkhitaryan at Arsenal after the Armenian joined in a swap deal which saw Alexis Sanchez head to Manchester United. The duo combined for 62 goals in all competitions two seasons ago.

This season, Aubameyang has scored 21 goals in 24 matches in all competitions. He has found the net 141 times since joining BVB from Saint-Etienne for €13m in July 2013, and he also has 23 goals in 56 caps for Gabon.

The 28-year-old’s on the verge of joining an Arsenal side that sit sixth in the Premier League table, five points off the pace in the race for the top four.

The Gunners were eliminated in their FA Cup third round meeting with Nottingham Forest earlier this month but have advanced to the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City and will face Swedish side Ostersund in the Europa League last 32.

As previously reported, West Brom defender Jonny Evans is also a target at the Emirates Stadium, although a hamstring injury sustained at the weekend could see a transfer put on hold until the summer.

Evans is open to a move, but Arsenal may face a late battle, with the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City also keen to land the former Manchester United player, depending on his fitness status.

[Source: www.goal.com]