Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: Struggles in L1 and Worrying Signals for Marseille

It’s a funny paradox that doesn’t amuse many people on the Canebière. Since the start of the season, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been as formidable on the European scene as he is ineffective in L1. The star recruit from Olympique de Marseille scored four goals in three matches in Europe, between his two goals in the C1 play-offs against Panathinaikos on the return leg, and his double in the Europa League for the first day against Ajax Amsterdam (3-3). But the problem is that he desperately cannot reproduce this in the French championship.

Since his signing with great fanfare in July, PEA has remained tirelessly silent in L1. A native of Laval, the Gabonese does not have the excuse of adaptation, he who knows the L1 well having launched his career there under the colors of Lille, then Monaco and Saint-Etienne after a stint in Dijon in L2. But he is unable to break through: seven matches, six starts and still not the slightest goal to score for a Marseille team which badly needs to see its center forward score goals.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang double scorer with OM against Panathinaikos at the Vélodrome

Credit: Getty Images

Worrying signals in L1

The impression he leaves is even without appeal. At 34, the man who has demonstrated his finishing qualities at the highest level both at Dortmund (141 goals in 213 matches between 2013 and 2018) and at Arsenal (92 goals in 163 matches between 2018 and 2021) is not at the top of his form. Although he repeats that he still had the “speed record with Chelsea last season”, he is not as sharp on the pitch as in the past. And if he does not manage to take the depth as before while he is often lonely in front, he also shows a desperate clumsiness in front of the opposing goal while being imprecise in his ball handling.

So of course, not everything has to be thrown away. The Marseille striker has already delivered two assists this season in L1. He also has his goals in Europe which suggest that he just needs a breakthrough in L1 to launch his season in France. But doubts are still accumulating about the situation of the Gabonese who has signed up with Olympique de Marseille for three years. Because for the moment, his performances only remind us of the void left by the Chilean Alexis Sanchez, who conquered Marseille for his efficiency last season and his exemplary attitude on the pitch.

Pierre Emerick Aubameyang with Olympique de Marseille in the Europa League

Credit: Getty Images

He still has a lot to give us

All this necessarily raises questions about the condition of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. It should be remembered that he only played 120 minutes at Chelsea between last February and June. And at his age, this lack of rhythm is not necessarily easy to make up for. “I spoke with Aubameyang. I told him that his 34 years did not matter. We see that he still has peaks at 35/36km/h, replied his new coach Gennaro Gattuso on Wednesday. scored in the Europa League, I see in training that he wants to give everything. He still has a lot to give us.”

Faced with this crossing of the desert, Aubameyang indeed seems to have the right attitude. On a personal level already by continuing to work. “Obviously there is a little frustration. Afterwards, I think that with my experience, I know that when the first one arrives, it will come together. So I don’t lose patience, I continue the work and I don’t give up nothing,” he said after the setback against Monaco on Friday at the Phocéen.

And if he is slow to justify the expectations logically linked to his status and his past as a serial scorer, the former Barcelona player also seems invested in the locker room where he must lead the way. “Aubameyang brings me a lot. He’s an idol because I watched him when I was young. When we do shooting sessions together, he advises me a lot,” Iliman Ndiaye admitted on Wednesday. Enough to say that OM was not completely wrong about his profile. Even if the Marseille club of course expects a lot more, particularly in front of the French goals.

2023-10-04 22:22:44
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