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Borussia Dortmund superstar Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been highly linked with a move to Premier League in the January transfer window.
According to Bundesliga expert, Lee Price, the Gabonese International was looking for a way out of the Signal Iduna Park for over a year and could finally be on the verge of leaving BVB, with Arsenal interested, as per reports in the Daily Express.
The Gunners have identified Aubameyang as an ideal replacement for Alexis Sanchez, who is expected to join Manchester United within the coming days, according to The Sun.
That being said, here are 5 reasons why Arsenal should avoid signing Aubameyang:
#5 One-dimensional attributes
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is very polarised when it comes to his playing attributes in the final third.
Although largely known for his devastating pace and goal-scoring abilities, Aubameyang still lacks the strength and fighting spirit to evolve as a top striker in the Premier League and is very one-dimensional in his approach against the opposing defenders.
Playing on the shoulders of the last defender is a vital part of his game, meaning Aubameyang gets largely isolated when up against a sturdy defensive unit.
Furthermore, he relies solely on his clever positioning inside the box to score goals, meaning he is not someone you would expect to win games with a piledriver from long range, nor shrug off defenders at will in order pull of an incredible solo effort.
His performance heavily depends on the chances created by his teammates and should they fail to make enough opportunities, Aubameyang is very likely to struggle.
#4 No defensive output
One of Aubameyang's main weaknesses is his lack of defensive output.
Sure, for someone with his talents and pace, one doesn't expect too much defensive work. However, Aubemeyang is very likely to struggle in the Premier League due to his lack of defensive work rate, especially when coming against the likes of Manchester City, who love to keep their opponents on the run.
Aubameyang hardly needs to put up defensive effort largely thanks to Borussia Dortmund's possession-based game and even though Arsenal are also a team who likes to keep possession, the Gabonese will be an integral part of their first line of pressing - something he's expected to struggle at.
#3 There's been a mass deterioration in his performances
Aubameyang's performances in recent months have already deteriorated a lot and he doesn't look like his former self anymore.
Sure, he may have still scored a whopping 21 goals in 23 matches this season, but that is largely down to Borussia Dortmund's impressive chance creation in the final third
With players like Mario Gotze, Shinji Kagawa, Christian Pulisic feeding in behind, Aubameyang easily gets the opportunity to score at least one or two goals week in week out.
He gets involved in BVB's link-up play a lot less than previous seasons and has also missed a series of glorious opportunities. Especially in the last couple of months, Aubameyang's deterioration has been clearly evident as the Gabonese International has only scored three goals in his last seven league outings.
#2 He's too expensive for his age
Borussia Dortmund are understandably looking to get the best value out of their star striker, which is why they have already slapped a price-tag of £53 million on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, as per reports in the Daily Star.
Considering the fact that he's already 28-years old, and doesn't really have any room to further grow as a striker, it could really prove to be a tad too expensive for any club. Especially for Arsenal, who haven't spent over £50 million on a player in the club's history.
With not too many years left in him, would it really be worth it for Arsenal to break their club's transfer record to sign a striker well into his prime? With a number of young stars breaking onto the scene, would it not be wise to invest in a long-term prospect rather than Aubameyang - who would be more of an impact signing?
#1 He's (definitely) not an Alexis Sanchez replacement
Last but not the least, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is definitely not a proper replacement for Alexis Sanchez.
Arsenal are currently in dire need of someone who can replicate the performances of the Chilean superstar or at least possess the same qualities. As mentioned earlier, Aubameyang's playing style is largely one-dimensional and he's clearly not the right man for Arsenal to pursue.
Which is why the Gunners should, instead, turn their interests towards other candidates available in the market. Bordeaux's Malcom, for one, could be an ideal long-term replacement for the seemingly Manchester United-bound Alexis Sanchez.
