Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was left with no choice but to leave Arsenal this winter, with a number of disciplinary issues leaving the Gunners with nothing to do but to part ways.
At 32 years old and struggling through a difficult season, it felt as if Aubameyang was a last-ditch option for Barcelona, which was itself struggling through a season full of strife both on and off the field.
Aubameyang is now out to prove that line of thinking wrong, as he started for the first time in league play and grabbed his first two goals for the club on Sunday to put Barcelona pas Valencia 4-1. It appeared as if he would fall just short of a trio, but eventually picked up a third on a technicality after the match, giving him the hat-trick.
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His first came on a beautiful long ball from Jordi Alba — who fed Aubameyang's well-timed run — with the Gabon international settling expertly and rifling a right-footed blast by Valencia defender Omar Alderete and into the roof of the net, leaving no chance for Giorgi Mamardashvilli.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scores his first goal for Barcelona! π pic.twitter.com/BBun4C6NjP
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 20, 2022
Frenkie de Jong grabbed Barcelona's second before Aubameyang tacked on another, bagging his brace.
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Aubameyang's second was more of a poacher's finish, there to provide the tap-in on the doorstep from Gavi's rifled cross. American full-back Sergino Dest picked up the proverbial hockey assist, with his well-placed feed off his left foot sending Gavi through acres of space down the right.
Auba gets his second goal for Barca π₯ pic.twitter.com/QX7xP03dv7
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 20, 2022
The 32-year-old came agonizingly close to a hat-trick on a number of occasions. First, a penalty was given to Barcelona shortly after halftime, but it was cancelled on VAR after Aubameyang was judged to be offside. Then, four Barcelona's fourth goal, Pedri scored an absolute cracker which seemed to take a slight deflection off Aubameyang's back on its way in, with the Gabon international ducking out of the way to allow the well-struck ball through. The deflection was initially deemed not enough for the frontman to claim the goal as his.
PEDRI WHAT A HIT π₯π₯π₯ pic.twitter.com/oYQp6H10gt
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 20, 2022
After the match, however, Barcelona confirmed that Pedri's goal would be given to Aubameyang, completing the hat-trick. A penny for the 19-year-old's thoughts.
π¨ ππππ π πππ ππ !!! The referee of today's #ValenciaBarΓ§a has given @Pedri's goal to @Auba!
... πΌ ππΌπ ππππΎπ πππ πππ ππππΎππππ !!! π pic.twitter.com/hYVdY8X2S4
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 20, 2022
Aubameyang moved from Arsenal in January, with the Gunners canceling the final six months of his contract to pave the way for a free transfer.
The move came after a series of disciplinary issues that left Arsenal no choice. He was stripped of the captaincy in the first half of the season after returning late from a trip abroad, with manager Mikel Arteta citing a number of previous incidents. Aubameyang then was caught partying while traveling to Cameroon for the Africa Cup of Nations and subsequently was sidelined for a positive COVID-19 test.
2 - Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang π¬π¦ is the second @FCBarcelona player to score a brace in his first @LaLigaEN start in the 21st century, after Francisco TrincΓ£o π΅πΉ against AlavΓ©s in February 2021. Ultrasonic. pic.twitter.com/0POHLhBDjk
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) February 20, 2022
He returned from Africa without appearing for Gabon, with the national team citing an irregular heartbeat possibly stemming from his COVID-19 bout. He would not make another Arsenal appearance, instead joining Barcelona after an awkward and dramatic Deadline Day saga.
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Clearly, his presence in Spain has already borne fruit for Barcelona. And while the Catalan giants are likely out of the La Liga title race, he could help secure Champions League play for the club next season and provide a push through Barcelona's first-ever appearance in the Europa League.
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