One wonders if Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is now superstitious.

On the Emirates, some followers will let you know that the striker was fouled by the “Arsenal captain’s curse”, whereas Chelsea followers will let you know that his Stamford Bridge profession was ruined from the second he wore the #9 jersey.

Regardless of the fact, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang faces an unsure future for the second time in a row.

This time final yr, Aubameyang was within the midst of a bitter divorce from Arsenal.

He moved from captain to vagrant in simply over a month and was allowed to affix Barcelona in early February, simply 5 weeks after his armband was eliminated for “closing disciplinary violation”.

Now, some pundits are already questioning if he’ll ever play for Chelsea once more, after each beginning and ending Thursday’s bench match towards Manchester Metropolis within the Premier League.

Aubameyang replaces the injured Raheem Sterling. Nonetheless, he took his place in the midst of the second half.

Throughout his 63 minutes on the courtroom, he solely managed to the touch the ball 13 instances – solely certainly one of which got here from the Metropolis space – and did not report a single shot.

Worse nonetheless, former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton was amongst those that accused him of not making an effort.

“Aubameyang did not appear to need to be right here tonight” He told BBC Sport. “I believed she was grieving, hopeless, and did not give something shut sufficient.

“He appeared disinterested and Graham Potter’s ‘Wow, he’ll by no means play underneath me once more!’ I think you’ll.”

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In actuality, Aubameyang may begin the FA Cup third spherical match with Metropolis on the Etihad on Sunday.

It isn’t like Chelsea have many choices.

Whereas Kai Havertz continues to flatter for dishonest when performed within the center (and wherever else for that matter), wingers Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic have simply joined the membership’s solely different orthodox striker, Armando Broja, within the remedy room.

There’s additionally the truth that Potter did his greatest to defend Aubameyang after his midweek ineffective outing.

The striker was visibly dissatisfied together with his withdrawal, however his manager insisted, “It was a standard response.

“He arrived a couple of minutes later, hadn’t performed shortly and made an absolute change for us, provided that Manchester Metropolis have been operating you thru so much.

“I believed he did every little thing he may for the group. It was just a bit tiring.”

In fact, even that’s not a very good signal.

The shortage of match sharpness is forgivable given how little taking part in time Aubameyang has seen in current months, however he shouldn’t tire. It isn’t prefer it was worn out by the World Cup, in any case.

The circumstances surrounding its present scenario at Stamford Bridge could also be very completely different from the tough Emirates departure, however as soon as once more, it seems like Aubameyang will profit from one other January switch.

However Chelsea are in bother. They don’t seem to be precisely properly stocked within the batting division, however there aren’t many world-class No.9s in the marketplace proper now.

Chelsea have after all signed a striker, David Datro Fofana, because the winter window opened, however Ivory is just not anticipated to make a direct line-up.

In his present type, if Aubameyang leaves, there would not be a single senior striker at Potter’s disposal underneath stress, as Borja is unlikely to play once more this season.

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It isn’t an excellent scenario for a supervisor on the head of a group that’s tenth within the Premier League, scoring 20 objectives in 17 video games and successful solely certainly one of their final eight video games in all competitions.

Aubameyang was speculated to be an answer to the Blues’ goal-scoring issues, and the purpose is, it may.

Chelsea could also be getting a variety of criticism for his or her hiring technique proper now, and rightfully so.

However we additionally see a variety of revisionism relating to the arrival of Aubameyang. Harry Redknapp and David Seaman claims he is doomed to fail at Stamford Bridge.

But that’s not the case. At the moment, shopping for Aubameyang made sense, as several respected experts admit.

With simply £10.3m ($12.4m), it appeared like a shrewd signature. Identical Mateo Kovacic openly admitted that Aubameyang is exactly “the kind of striker and striker we lack”.

Arsenal could have been proper to eliminate him final January, however that does not imply Chelsea have been fallacious to signal him over the summer time.

Seaman advised Barcelona have been keen to let him go, however their causes have been twofold: the arrival of Robert Lewandowski and the determined must steadiness the accounts.

Xavi was undoubtedly not completely satisfied to see Aubameyang go away.

First, the truth that he scored 11 objectives in 17 Liga video games final season, together with a double that put the whole membership on its ft in a 4-0 win at Actual Madrid.

Second, regardless of all his dangerous habits on the finish of his time at Arsenal, he carried out flawlessly at Camp Nou.

“I really feel dangerous for serving to us a lot” Xavi agreed. “An instance on and off the sphere made an enormous distinction, simply take a look at the numbers.

“As an individual he is a gem, he all the time trains with a smile on his face. It is a disgrace as a result of he is the form of participant you’d need in your squad, but it surely was a very good alternative for him and the membership as properly.” .

“We needed to put the items of the puzzle collectively, we’re all completely satisfied however as a coach I really feel dangerous for shedding a participant like Aubameyang.

He was an instance for the entire membership and for all of the gamers.”

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In fact, it is unimaginable to miss how Arteta’s Arsenal has benefited from Aubameyang’s departure. especially in terms of unifying the dressing room.

Opposite to what Gaboneses later stated, it was the issue, not the answer.

Nevertheless, the 33-year-old had so much to supply on and off the courtroom, as his brief interval in Spain underlined.

It was a raffle value taking. If Aubameyang had been given extra time with Thomas Tuchel, it might need paid off.

Certainly, the principle purpose many thought that Aubameyang may as soon as once more thrive at Stamford Bridge was his former boss’s presence at Borussia Dortmund.

The striker spent the most efficient interval of his profession underneath the German coach, scoring 79 objectives in 95 video games throughout Tuchel’s tenure.

“I hope it may be that good once more,” Tuchel stated after Aubameyang’s switch from Barça was confirmed on September 1.

“We all know what we’re getting, he scores objectives, he supplies velocity and run charge to the ball, so it is a massive package deal he can convey to our group.”

Tuchel was sacked simply six days after Aubameyang’s arrival, which stays a stunning determination.

Chelsea’s new house owners had backed the coach with a record-breaking £250m ($300m) in the summertime switch window, even kicking Romelu Lukaku, the most costly participant within the membership’s historical past, at Tuchel’s behest, simply after 7. video games.

In fact, it is good to keep in mind that. Despite his “sadness” at Tuchel’s sudden dismissal, Aubameyang nonetheless managed to attain three objectives of their first 5 video games. Potter also praised the way she coped with the trauma she suffered during and after the armed robbery of her Barcelona home just prior to her transfer to Chelsea.

Nevertheless, it quickly turned clear that Aubameyang was at odds with Chelsea’s – a minimum of for now – the Potter challenge, which targeted on reinvigorating their squad with younger gamers suited to the British fashion of play, as demonstrated by the signing of Andrey Santos, Fofana, in January. and Benoit Badiashile.

Now 10 video games and virtually three months gone goalless.

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Context is essential although, as all the time. Aubemeyang hasn’t carried out near his greatest, which is unquestionable, but it surely’s not like he is taking part in on a free-goal aspect.

No Chelsea participant has scored greater than 4 objectives within the league to date this season. Entrance line service was atrocious.

Take into account the truth that Aubameyang’s capturing accuracy in 16 video games in all competitions (63.16) is superior to Erling Haaland’s (61.11) – the distinction is in conversion charge (13.04%) to (31.76).

However this will primarily be attributed to the standard of the probabilities supplied to them.

Aubameyang has solely had 5 massive probabilities in 16 video games this season (Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez missed 21 on his personal!) however has transformed 40% of them – successful charge just like Kylian Mbappe and Robert Lewandowski (each 41.67%). ).

As former Chelsea ahead Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink stated, “It isn’t like he turned a nasty participant in a single day.”

In fact, Aubameyang has just one fault for locating himself on this place.

After signing a contract extension at Arsenal in 2020, Mikel admitted that Arteta satisfied him to remain, stating that he may “go away for trophies at different golf equipment” or “keep right here and have a legacy”.

He has utterly tarnished that legacy together with his actions final yr.

He betrayed an entire lack of management by reluctantly leaving Arteta with no selection however to point out the door to the Emirates.

It was not a straightforward determination for the Spaniard. Aubameyang was an integral a part of his two FA Cup victories. They’d fashioned a decent bond. Their separation was painful.

“I really feel actually unhappy” Arteta confessed after Aubameyang’s transfer to Barcelona.

However his former captain added insult to harm by criticizing Arteta in a video that leaked on-line, after which turned much more pissed off by sticking with Arsenal. A promotional video that everyone recommends ahead of a London derby in November where he will play with his old club and declare himself “blue”.

So, regardless of all of Aubameyang’s misfortune, all his discuss of unlucky timing, he discovered himself in a multitude of his personal making.

He can at present be a frontrunner within the line for league leaders – as an alternative, a backup striker at a membership with none ahead alignment.

So Aubameyang is just not cursed. He is only a sufferer of his personal dangerous selections.