In just 1 week, the 32-year-old Aubameyang has gone from an outcast at Arsenal to a hero at Camp Nou. Scoring five goals in three games, he inadvertently set a record of the century that may be difficult to break: he is the first player in the 21st century to score hat-tricks in Ligue 1, Bundesliga, Premier League and La Liga (he scored a hat-trick at Valencia, and it is debatable whether the third goal belonged to him or Pedri). The goal-scoring problems that plagued Koeman and Xavi for a long time before February were solved by Aubameyang. The latest issue of Barca magazine features four outstanding new signings in the winter window as the cover, with veteran Alves in the front row and the most expensive Felan Torres in the center, but fans know very well that Aubameyang is the undisputed C protagonist.
Aubameyang's outstanding performance not only made Barca fans and the media start to discuss whether he was the best reinforcement for Barca's winter window, but even triggered a discussion about whether Barca needed to sign Haaland this summer. At least for now, Aubameyang's form, psychological quality, ball dealership are the best level of Barca's No. 9 position after Suarez – and most importantly, he is free. Barca, which has exhausted all kinds of financial means to introduce Ferran Torres, actually do not have much financial ability to ensure that Haalander has enough capital to join, and Aubameyang is not indispensable as a B plan with equally excellent goal efficiency.
Aubameyang's arrival has raised Barca's attack power by one dimension. Marca even asked the question of historical positioning: Is the Gabonese shooter the best reinforcement in barcelona's history winter window? Previously, the title that went down in Barca's history belonged to Dutch back Davis, who joined in early 2004. Barca's winter window signings have always been known for their inconspicuousness, from the Bogard and De Boer brothers at the end of the last century to the expensive Coutinho, Giovanni, Bresvet, Yeri Mina, Emerson and the cheap Solin, Albertini, Murillo, and the fans at camp Nou have not been satisfied.
Davis's joining that year allowed Rijkaard's team to solve the stubborn disease of "waist weakness", playing the crazy second half of the 9 consecutive wins, and then created the "Dream Team II". Aubameyang's arrival filled the crater of no. 9 left by Suarez and, more importantly, he completely activated Barca's attacking trident. Harvey initially hoped that Ferran Torres would inherit the No. 9, but the Valencian lacked the sense of smell in front of goal. Memphis and Bryswitt were injured, Luc De Jong had only an air superiority and no technical advantage, while Aubameyang had both.
Gabon's veteran, who will turn 33 in June, has contracted COVID-19 this season, suffered heart problems and was swept out by Arsenal. No one expected to find a second spring in Barca, scoring 5 goals in 6 games, Barca's last 4 goals and 3 consecutive wins he has scored, away to Valencia also scored a hat-trick, the efficiency of integration into the team is shocking. Almost all of Barca's current team's top scorers have their own obvious shortcomings. Memphis is not able to fight and play is unstable; Luc De Jong has no speed and average foot technique; Felan Torres is excellent in technology and good in speed, but the gap in front of goal is not small compared to Aubameyang.
Aubameyang's personal idol is Ronaldo and believes that the way "aliens" play football is revolutionary. Aubameyang at the peak of Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal can also see the shadow of some idols. While he doesn't have Ronaldo's technical talent, Aubameyang is impressive in terms of speed, shots and no-ball running. At the peak of boreal Dortmund, he scored around 40 goals for two consecutive years, and the market value was as high as 75 million euros, which attracted the attention of famous giants including Bayern, Juventus and the Premier League. At the age of 32, he can still play such an efficient and perfect start at Barca, which also proves the strength of the Gabonese star.
Although Aubameyang's contract with Barca lasted for 3 and a half years, with his 33-year-old summer age, the Gabonese are destined not to be the core of Xavi's future team building. But this does not prevent him from working with Harvey to lay the foundation for the future "Dream Four Team". The Barca team magazine put the help brought by the four new signings of Winter City into three keywords: experience, speed and efficiency. Alves offers experience, Traore and Torres provide speed, and Aubameyang provides efficiency. But in fact, Aubameyang, who has played in the four major leagues, can also export experience.
In order to join Barca, Aubameyang has cut his salary by 80%, and his annual salary after tax this season is only 2.5 million euros. But he doesn't regret it, because at Barca he can be with young people and feel the enthusiasm he has lost for a long time again. Like dembele, who has a loose personality, Aubameyang is known for his fondness for being late, and disciplinary issues are the root cause of his break with Arsenal boss Arteta. But in Barcelona, Xavi's locker room management, while harsh, is not unkind. In order to join Barca, Aubameyang consulted Dembele and Henry and finally decided to reunite with his former dortmund friends in Barcelona, which would greatly reduce the pressure on him to come to a strange city.
Barca set a penalty of up to 100 million euros for the 32-year-old striker, which is enough respect for the Gabonese. As the 2015 African Footballer of the Year and Bundesliga Best of the Season and Bundesliga and Premier League Golden Boot winners, Aubameyang aims to end his career with the same achievement at Barca. He has struggled in London for the past two years, trying to get back to his former form, but twice contracted coronavirus and injuries, as well as a conflict with Arteta, have left Aubameyang with a season and a half. Barca's Aubameyang is the first-class shooter who can still score 29 goals in the Premier League's best team in the new crown outbreak season.
He was sent to the cold at Arsenal in the first half of the season, still with 7 goals in 15 games. Harvey has always had confidence in Aubameyang, and now he is the best lobbyist for Dembele's contract extension. Perhaps Harvey's Dream Four team will be the younger Haaland in the future, but Aubameyang will be like Busquets, Pique and Alves, who will become the batsmen of this future era.