I’m happy to reunite with my friend Micki at Arsenal, says Aubameyang
EIGHTEEN months after they last linked up at Borussia Dortmund, Pierre-emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan are teammates again.
Both players have been signed by Arsenal in this transfer window - Mkhitaryan in a swap deal which saw Alexis Sanchez go to Manchester United, while Aubameyang arrived on deadline day for a club record £56million.
Yesterday, after being officially unveiled as a Gunner, Aubameyang was given a tour of Arsenal’s London Colney training facilities.
He met up again with Mkhitaryan in the gym, with the pair chatting and smiling, and looking happy to be reunited.
Speaking to the club website, Aubameyang said: ‘Of course I can join Micki in this team, so I’m really happy to be here in this great team.’
Their transfer to Arsenal echoes their arrival at Dormund, when they were signed by the Bundesliga club within three days of each other in July 2013. While there, they formed a potent partnership, and Arsenal will hope they manage to forge a similar attacking threat in order to turn around their faltering season.
On his tour, Aubameyang was shown around the whole facility, and was snapped examining photos of Arsenal’s past successes, including many of his team-mates posing with the FA Cup last season - while wearing his own personalised hoodie, black with the initials ‘PEA’ in silver.
Aubameyang also signed some balls and Arsenal shirts - although the number was not shown, with the club yet to reveal what the Gabon international will have on his back.
The behind-the-scenes photos also show Aubameyang in front of a green screen, filming his unveiling video which was posted on social media.
Dortmund confirmed the news on their Twitter account on Wednesday, before Arsenal then shared a series of pictures of Aubameyang posing in the home kit, pulling a variety of animated poses. He has become the best-paid player in the club’s history on a three-and-a-half-year contract worth £180,000 per week.
The 28-year-old striker is part of a transfer merry-goround that will see Olivier Giroud leave the Gunners for Chelsea and Michy Batshuayi quit Stamford Bridge to replace Aubameyang at Dortmund. Aumbameyang brings with him a bad-boy reputation, having been the subject of several disciplinary proceedings by Dortmund as he pushed for a move away from the club.
A statement from Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc alluded to the recent problems, saying: ‘Apart from the unpleasant events of recent weeks, we like to remember that the story of Pierre-emerick Aubameyang at BVB for more than four years was a single success story.