When Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang found himself frozen out at Arsenal in December 2021, he must have wondered what the immediate future held for him. Uncertainty reigned in North London, with it unclear as to how the Gabon international would be able to rediscover a spark. Fast forward a few short months and life could not be rosier for the man that has always prided himself on his unerring ability to put the ball in the back of the net. A move to Barcelona that few could have predicted at the start of 2021-22 has turned into a win-win for all concerned.
Arsenal had made it clear that they were not going to forgive or forget, making a fresh start imperative in the January transfer window. La Liga heavyweights found themselves in need of a proven frontman and the rest, as they say, is history. The Catalan giants will be thanking their lucky stars after seeing a prolific presence fall into their lap. After finding options to fill a No.9 role limited early in the campaign, through no fault of their own, recruitment plans would have been drawn up long before another winter window swung open.
Hello from the finished player
— AUBA (@Auba) March 21, 2022
pic.twitter.com/MUPmsznoup
Funds were always going to be in short supply, with Barca needing to get creative with any business. Fortunately for them, assessment tools are now commonplace in modern society. Football has embraced the influence of technology as much as any other industry, with a helping hand often required by those that find themselves in the market for goods and services that range from a new television to a central striker. Statistical data is available across the board at the touch of a button. Whether you are looking for guidance on the best films and series to watch or stream or the ideal location for a summer holiday.
This, of course, applies to sports betting too, due to the high completion in the industry naturally leading to a saturated market and lots of options to choose from. Fans can find advice on where to find the most competitive odds and bonuses from major sportsbooks like DRF, all compiled in a handy review by BonusFinder US. In fact, with Barcelona available at +160 there for Europa League glory this season, audiences from Iowa to Indiana are now being catered to. Those occupying offices of power in northern Spain would have sought similar assistance when it comes to unearthing value before settling on a swoop for Aubameyang, with pros and cons aplenty weighed up.
Starman
To have landed a forward with well over 250 club goals to his name, with no fee required, represents remarkable business for the Blaugrana. They would have been snapping Arsenal’s hand off when learning that there was a deal to be done, with the perks of the agreement already being lapped up. Aubameyang made a stunning impact after being thrown straight in at the deep end by Xavi. Through his opening 11 appearances for Barca, the target was found on nine occasions – with his account opened with a hat-trick against Valencia, before going on to bag a brace in a 4-0 Clasico thumping of arch-rivals Real Madrid.
Our fifth #Oscar nominee is
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 28, 2022
Starring: @Auba pic.twitter.com/UsAhgVbEJn
The future appears to look bright for the club and players at Camp Nou, with some dark clouds beginning to clear as chinks of positivity shine through once more. Aubameyang is certainly proving that he can follow in the footsteps of a fellow Arsenal prodigy that swapped the Premier League for the Primera Division. Thierry Henry managed only four goals through 11 outings immediately after joining Barcelona, with those efforts being outdone at present. The Frenchman did, however, collect La Liga and Champions League winners’ medals while in Spain, so Aubameyang still has some way to go before he can claim to have been as shrewd a piece of business for one of the biggest sporting institutions on the planet.
Back to the Soccer Newsfeed