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Tag: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

  • AFCON Qualifier: Panthers bank on red hot Aubameyang for miracle!

     

    Can Arsenal forward and Gabon international Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang turn the table and hand the Panthers a ticket to the Nations cup in Egypt?

    That is perhaps the query on the lips of most Gabonese as the Panthers take on Swallows of Burundi in the last group match of the AFCON qualifiers.

    Burundi occupy the second position in Group C two points below group leaders Mali and two points above third placed Gabon with seven points.

    If the qualification were to end like this, Mali and Burundi will clinch the two tickets of the group, but judging from the overwhelming welcome handed Aubameyang by his countrymen and women on his arrival to the country, it is apparent that they believe it is not late to swap positions at the last minute.

    The 2015 African footballer of the year, who has 22 goals in 39 games for the Gunners this season, got a hero’s welcome as he touched down in the city of Libreville on Wednesday night.

    Hundreds of supporters turned up to greet Aubameyang with chants and cheers as his brother, Willy, captured the incredible reception on Instagram. He is back and in top shape for Saturday’s crucial battle against Burundi

    And Gabon’s fans made sure to give him all the motivation he needs to fire them to victory with the warmest of welcomes.

    Aubameyang’s brother followed the Gunners star as he struggled to move through the packed crowd, who were clearly delighted to see him back on home soil.

    Aubameyang was absent for Gabon’s last two games – a 1-0 win over South Sudan and a 1-0 defeat by Mali – despite having been named in both squads.

    No official reason was given for him missing the clash with South Sudan, although some reports suggested he was unhappy with the plane Gabon had chartered for the journey.

    Aubameyang then missed the match with Mali amid claims that he was set to retire from international duty at the age of 29.

    However, manager Daniel Cousin dismissed those fears last week, telling the Gabonese News Agency: ‘Pierre is indeed summoned.

    ‘I did not receive any document from his club signaling his refusal to take part in this match. He knows what I think and expect of him.’

    The pressure will be firmly on Aubameyang’s shoulders on Saturday with Gabon needing a win to progress to this year’s Africa Cup of Nations. Will the Panthers carry the day or will they be swallowed by the Swallows?

     

     

     

     

     

  • Arsenal charged by FA over pitch invader at Man Utd game

    Arsenal has been charged by the Football Association (FA) over the pitch invasion that occurred during Sunday’s Premier League game against Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium.

    The incident occurred in the 69th minute of Arsenal’s 2-0 victory, when a supporter ran on to the field to celebrate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s goal and shoved United defender Chris Smalling.

    He then approached Arsenal’s players with his arms aloft before stewards escorted him off the pitch.

    The man was later arrested.

    “Arsenal FC has been charged with breaches of FA Rule E20 (a)and (b),” the FA said in a statement.

    “It is alleged the club failed to ensure that its spectator(s) conducted themselves in an orderly fashion and refrained from encroaching onto the pitch during the Premier League fixture against Manchester United on Sunday.”

    Arsenal has until March 22 to respond to the charge.

    Pitch invasions in England and Scotland over the weekend have raised fears for player safety, with those in the game warning of potential tragedy unless firm action is taken to tackle the problem.

    Before the incident at Arsenal, Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish was punched in the face by a man in a Championship (second tier) game at local rivals Birmingham City.

    While in Scotland, Rangers captain James Tavernier was attacked at Hibernian.

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  • EPL: Kane, Lloris rescue point for Tottenham

    Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang missed a 90th minute penalty kick as a scrappy north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur ended in a 1-1 draw on Saturday.

    Hugo Lloris got down low to keep out the substitute’s poor kick and rescue a below par Tottenham who had equalised in the 74th minute through Harry Kane’s penalty kick.

    Arsenal, bidding to close the gap to their arch-rivals to one point, had taken the lead in the 16th minute when Aaron Ramsey broke clear after a mistake by Davinson Sanchez.

    Kane had a first-half header ruled out for offside, but Tottenham struggled to create chances as a third English Premier League defeat in succession for the first time since 2012 loomed.

    Alexandre Lacazette had wasted a good chance to make it 2-0 to Arsenal, but it was the man who replaced him, Aubameyang, who cost his side victory.

    The Gabonese hit a poorly-struck penalty kick after Sanchez was adjudged to have fouled him.

    A niggly game ended with Arsenal’s other substitute Lucas Torreira being red-carded for a high tackle on Danny Rose.

    Read Also: Kane out until March with ankle injury

    Tottenham’s first league draw of the season left them third on the table, four points above Arsenal.

    Arsenal themselves can be overtaken by Manchester United if they beat Southampton later in the day.

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  • African Player of the Month: SuperSport Picks Aubameyang

     SuperSport has picked Arsenal and Gabon international, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as the African Player for the Month of November 2018.

    The 29-year-old featured in four matches for Arsenal through the month and racked up five goals and an assist in just 221 playing minutes for the Gunners. He also played the full game for his national team Gabon as they claimed an important 3-0 win over South Sudan in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

    Auba, as he is fondly known, has established himself as an incredible ‘impact’ player under new Arsenal manager Unai Emery. The Panthers attacker came off the bench to brilliant effect in Premier League matches against Fulham and Leicester this month.

    Against the Cottagers he racked up two goals and an assist, while his cameo against the Foxes also featured two strikes – and this was in a combined 57 minutes of play!

    In addition, the former Borussia Dortmund man also started and scored a goal in Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace this past weekend – bringing their unbeaten run to 12 matches across all competitions.

    The Gunners are probably too early in their development under Emery to be considered true title contenders in the Premier League, but with Auba – and his great partnership with French forward Alexandre Lacazette – they know that they have the firepower to strike fear into any opposition.

    “There is no competition over who scored more goals. Maybe in training we do because it helps us to improve but not in the weekend,” said Lacazette in regards to his relationship with the Gabonese star.

    He added: “If Auba scores 40 goals, we finish in the Champions League and win something then I will be happy. This season we just want to win something.”

    Aubameyang is not the only African to have impressed in the Premier League through the month of October. The Liverpool duo of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah appear to have rediscovered their peak form in the last few weeks, and the showdown between the pair and Auba when Arsenal host Liverpool on the first weekend of November promises to be awesome.

    In addition, Riyad Mahrez has found his feet at Manchester City and is beginning to thrive under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola. The Algerian scored a brilliant goal and put in a great overall performance in a 5-0 win over Burnley, and was also the match-winner in the Citizens’ 1-0 triumph away to Tottenham Hotspur on October 29.

    The former Leicester City star dedicated his goal against Spurs to the Foxes’ late club owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, who died in a tragic helicopter accident near the King Power Stadium this past weekend.

    “The boss was very special to me. I spent four and a half years there and have many memories with him,” explained the North Africa attacker.

    “He was such a good person and had a big heart. It was heart-breaking and shocking for me to hear this news and for all of the other people who died with him. I am with Leicester and the family of the victims.”

  • Football: Cousin named as Gabon coach after Aubame

    Former Hull City and Rangers striker, Daniel Cousin is the new Gabon coach after the father of the country’s leading player, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, turned down the job.
    Cousin’s appointment has been confirmed by the Gabon Football Federation ( FEGAFOOT ), who were last week heavily criticised by Aubameyang for the arbitrary appointment of his father Pierre Aubame as co-coach alongside Cousin.
    Arsenal striker Aubymeyang said his father had not agreed to the job before being announced as a national coach, was ill and did not want the job anyway, leading to an embarrassing retraction by the federation.

    Read Also: In Gabon, an app to boost academic performance

    Aubameyang, the 2015 African Footballer of the Year, said the original announcement was “another example of the federation’s amateurism” but FEGAFOOT said they were pressured into it by the sports minister, without explaining why.

    Aubame also captained the national team, was among Gabon’s first exports to French league football and had previously served as an assistant coach with the Gabon team.

    Cousin replaces former Spain manager Juan Antonio Camacho, who was fired after winning just two matches in his two-year spell as Gabon coach.

    Cousin takes charge for the first time when Gabon faces South Sudan in Libreville on Oct. 12 and the same opposition in Juba four days later.

    The country needs all six points to revive hopes of qualifying for next year’s African Nations Cup finals.

  • No stopping Aubameyang on the fast lane

     

    Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is known for his flashy lifestyle and the striker’s collection of supercars is evidence of his wealth.

    The Gabon international is starting to settle in England on the pitch and it appears that he is doing so off it as well as he has imported a selection of his cars, which are parked outside the luxury hotel that he is staying in.

    Aubameyang’s stunning array of vehicles are worth around £850,000 combined, while he has another £2million worth of cars back in Germany, where he previously played for Borussia Dortmund.

    Aubameyang’s impressive Porsche Panamera Turbo Techart is worth £140,000 and is part of the collection he has imported

    Aubameyang’s speed is his key asset and that description certainly fits some of his cars, with his collection comprised of a Porsche Panamera Turbo Techart (valued at £140,000), a Lamborghini Aventador (£270,000), a Ferrari 812 Superfast (£250,000) and a Range Rover Sport Mansory (£150,000).

    The 28-year-old has a host of other cars still that aren’t currently in England, including a Ferrari 458 Italia (£200,000), an Aston Martin DB9 Volante 2 (£140,000) and an Audi R8 V10 Plus (£128,000).

    Aubameyang is earning £180,000 a week at Arsenal after joining the club from Dortmund in the closing stages of the January transfer window.

    Aubameyang is clearly settling into life in England by bringing some of his cars with him only shortly after his move

    It has been a mixed start for Aubameyang at Arsenal as he has caught the eye in some games and appeared isolated up front in others, but his overall return of three goals in six games is quite impressive.

    Ineligible for Arsenal’s Europa League fixtures given that Dortmund dropped down into the competition from the Champions League, Aubameyang has led the line for the Gunners in the Premier League and scored in the recent victory over Watford.

    Aubameyang is currently on international duty with Gabon, for whom he is expected to feature in a friendly against Thailand on Thursday.

    If Aubameyang manages to find the net in that game then he will become Gabon’s outright all-time leading scorer; he is currently level with Theodore Nzue Nguema on 23 goals.

    Once he returns to Arsenal, Aubameyang will hope to finish the season in positive fashion as he continues to adapt to his new surroundings. Arsenal’s next game after the international break is at home to Stoke on April 1.

  • It’s a golden affair for Aubameyang!

    It’s a golden affair for Aubameyang!

    Life must go on is probably the best way to capture the action of former Dortmund and Gunners new buy  Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

    Arsenal may have suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of Manchester City in Sunday’s EFL Cup final.

    But Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang didn’t let their embarrassing 3-0 loss by Pep Guardiola’s side prevent him from enjoying himself on Monday night.

    The striker, who became Arsenal’s record signing when he arrived from Borussia Dortmund for £56million in January, was seen leaving Nobu Berkeley Street alongside his girlfriend Alysha Behague.

    Aubameyang is famed for his flashy lifestyle and he and Behague were pictured heading away from the restaurant in an incredible gold Range Rover.

    The striker, who wore a sparkling jacket and high-top trainers, was enjoying some down time a day on from Arsenal’s crushing defeat by Manchester City

    Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany and David Silva all got on the scoresheet as Guardiola picked up his first trophy since taking over the Premier League club.

    Arsene Wenger’s players came in for heavy criticism for their display on Sunday. But Jack Wilshere claimed that two of City’s goals should not have been allowed to stand and that City should have been reduced to 10 men.

    Writing on Instagram, Wilshere made a case for Aguero’s opener being disallowed for a foul on Shkodran Mustafi, before suggesting that Kompany’s strike should have been ruled out because Leroy Sane was offside and interfering with play.

    ‘City are a good team and deserved to win yesterday. A lot of people have had their say on us and we have to accept criticism when we lose that being said I can’t accept some of the decisions that went against us.

    ‘Whatever you say about the first goal it was a foul. The second goal is offside. There should have been a second yellow in the first half.

    ‘Yes this happens in football but it’s still hard to accept. And people will say we are looking for excuses but these are facts.’

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Aubameyang inspects £16million mansion in London

    Aubameyang inspects £16million mansion in London

     

    It was a case of division of labour  o for Arsenal and the club’s new sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on Thursday. While the Gunners were playing Europa League football in sub-zero temperatures in Sweden, the Gabon international was using his free time to go house-hunting.

    The 28-year-old, who signed from Borussia Dortmund in a £56million deal last month, is looking for property in north

    London and took a look at a stunning £16m mansion.

    The six-bedroom house was built just four years ago and designed from start to finish by Kelly Hoppen, an interior designer who has previously worked for the Beckhams and was a ‘Dragon’ on BBC show Dragons’ Den.

    The luxury property boasts six bathrooms, five shower rooms, three dressing rooms, a study and drawing room as well as the usual reception hall, dining room, kitchen and sitting room.

    And that’s not to mention a fully-equipped gymnasium, a home cinema, swimming pool and a fully landscaped 129-foot garden.

    It’s a home that would certainly offer the Gabon international plenty of room to spread out in when not banging in goals for Arsenal.

    It was designed by Kelly Hoppen – who once dated former England and Arsenal defender, Sol Campbell.

    The 58-year-old, who was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 2009 for services to Interior Design, also leant her design credentials to Christine and Frank Lampard’s West London home, which similarly boasts a basement swimming pool, gym and cinema.

    Aubameyang made a great start to life at Arsenal when he scored on debut in the 5-1 thrashing of Everton, having completed his move on Deadline Day.

    He is ineligible to play in the Europa League having turned out for Dortmund in the Champions League group stage, but his team-mates didn’t seem to miss him too much as they cruised to a 3-0 win over Ostersunds.

    Nacho Monreal set them on their way, before a Sotirios Papagiannopoulos own goal doubled their lead shortly afterwards.

    Mesut Ozil completed a comfortable night’s work in the second half.

    Aubameyang also spent his day off cleaning his fleet of expensive cars, including his gold Range Rover Sport Mansory and his Ferrari 812 Superfast.

  • EPL preview: Arsenal new boys face early derby baptism of fire

    EPL preview: Arsenal new boys face early derby baptism of fire

    New Arsenal signings Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan will get an early taste of the north London derby atmosphere when they face Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley on Saturday.

    The pair enjoyed comfortable home debuts in last weekend’s 5-1 rout of Everton.

    But their local rivals are sure to provide tougher opposition as the two teams continue their bids for UEFA Champions League qualification.

    Spurs are fifth in the table, four points ahead of sixth-placed Arsenal, one behind fourth-placed Chelsea and two adrift of third-placed Liverpool with 12 games left.

    Read Also: Fever may delay Aubameyang Arsenal debut

    Arsenal outplayed Tottenham in a 2-0 victory in the reverse fixture.

    But Spurs have reasons to be confident, having beaten second-placed Manchester United and drawn 2-2 at Liverpool in their last two games.

    Liverpool travel to St Mary’s on Sunday to face a Southampton side who ended a 12-match winless run in the league.

    The Saints climbed two points clear of the relegation zone with a 3-2 victory over West Bromwich Albion in their last match.

    Chelsea, meanwhile, will welcome bottom club West Brom to Stamford Bridge on Monday on the back of losing 3-0 at home to Bournemouth and 4-1 away to Watford.

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  • Fever may delay Aubameyang Arsenal debut

    Fever may delay Aubameyang Arsenal debut

     

    Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s Premier League debut may not come this weekend after Arsenal Wenger revealed the Arsenal striker is struggling with a fever.

    Aubameyang completed a deadline day move to the Emirates for a club record £56million as part of a convoluted process that saw Borussia Dortmund sign Michy Batshuayi on loan from Chelsea and Olivier Giroud move to Stamford Bridge.

    The Gabon international has been in fine form for Dortmund with 13 goals in 16 Bundesliga games.

    However, Arsenal fans may have to wait to see him in action after Wenger confirmed he is struggling to be ready for Saturday’s home clash against Everton.

    “Aubameyang, I have to assess how well he is physically today and how well he feels,” Wenger told a media conference.

    “He had a fever so he could not practice a lot – he started yesterday, was still not completely well.

    “I have to assess with the medical department how fit he can be.”

    Wenger expects Henrikh Mkhitaryan to make his first Gunners start after coming on as a substitute in the defeat at Swansea City on Tuesday.

    It is hoped the Armenia captain can reignite his relationship with old Dortmund colleague Aubameyang when both men are fully fit.

    “They are players who know each other well, they have had success together [before],” added Wenger.

    “I hope that they can link up like they did [at Dortmund].”

    The Gunners have slipped eight points off the Champions League qualification places after one win in their last five league games.

    Meanwhile Arsene Wenger has challenged Mesut Ozil to become a leader on the pitch for Arsenal after committing his future to the club.

    Ozil agreed a long-term contract at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday after speculation he could leave for free at the end of the season.

    The Germany international’s deal reportedly ties him to the club until 2021 and Ozil described the announcement as “one of the most important decisions of my footballing career”.

    With the playmaker’s future cleared up, Wenger expects to see Ozil raise his game on the pitch and help the Gunners in their quest for a top-four finish this season.

    “He [Ozil] has committed his future to the club in a period where we are in a tricky position in qualifying for the Champions League,” Wenger told a media conference.

    “What I expect from him is to lead the team to success [on the pitch].

    “Many had predicted he would not commit, it is good news for us, to keep a player of that calibre is good news.”