Arsenal fans were elated when club skipper Pierre-EmerickAubameyangended months of speculation over his future at the club by putting pen to paper on a new three-year deal until 2023 last summer but what they didn’t expect was the poor season that followed his renewal.
Aubameyang was the hero for the Gunners who ended last season with the FA Cup title against all odds and ahead of other big teams like Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United. Gabonese international Pierre-EmerickAubameyang scored twice in the FA Cup semi-final encounter with Manchester City as Arsenal tore the form books to secure an FA Cup final spot via a 2-0 win over the Citizens at Wembley Stadium.
Arsenal captain Pierre-EmerickAubameyangthen repeated his two-goal feat in the final against London rivals Chelsea who had seen off Manchester United in their semi-final tie. The Gunners hitman scored twice either side of the break as the North Londoners came from a goal down to beat Chelsea 2-1 and lift the FA Cup trophy to end the season on a high.
Aubameyang also scored the goal that set Arsenal on the way to winning the Community Shield at the expense of Liverpool at the start of the season. He scored the opener in the first half before Liverpool midfielder Takumi Minamino levelled proceedings for the Reds in the second half. The two teams drew 1-1 in regulation time before the Gunners emerged victorious 5-4 on penalties in the shootout.
Arsenal fans would have thought the Community Shield strike was a sign of a good season to come but they thought wrong as their skipper struggled to find top form throughout the season. Aubameyang ended the season on 15 goals in all competitions for his worst season in an Arsenal shirt. Attackers Alexandre Lacazette (17 goals) and Nicholas Pepe (16 goals) both scored more goals than Aubameyang who was very far from the list of the top five Arsenal players this season as released by the club. Apart from Pepe and Lacazette, young players Emile Smith-Rowe, Bukayo Saka and Kieran Tierney also made the list.