AUBA GOLD RUSH
Arsenal striker hits double for share of top scorer prize
By the end Arsenal’s intentions were obvious. Get the ball to Pierre- Emerick Aubameyang.
He had scored twice and everyone knew one more would see him win the Golden Boot outright in his first full season in England.
Arsenal’s paper-thin chances for that fourth Champions League spot had extinguished — they had needed to make up three points and eight goals on Tottenham — but they could at least claim this award for one of their own.
So Alex Iwobi had a clear target with his cross in the closing stages. Aubameyang twisted but shot over. Matteo Guendouzi then looked crestfallen when he failed with an easy opening to slip through his striker.
Eddie Nketiah hadn’t read the playbook though. He went and got himself on the scoresheet with the last kick of the game. Tom Heaton helped — Nketiah’s hard strike on target went through his legs — but the 19-year-old deserved his first Premier League goal.
Meanwhile Aubameyang, in space in the middle, dropped his hands to his knees and shrugged a smile. He had spoken of his desire to top the scoring charts and he has done that, albeit finishing level with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane on 22 goals.
With the Europa League final on the horizon Unai Emery made nine changes to his team from Thursday’s semi at Valencia but Aubameyang was not among them. He remained to try and complete his mission. With a scorer of this quality in the ranks, Arsenal should be making a better challenge on Manchester City and Liverpool.
As it is, Emery’s team finish fifth and must beat Chelsea on May 29 in Baku to reach next season’s Champions League.
Despite little riding on the result for Burnley, Sean Dyche’s team came with their customary belligerence, Ashley Barnes riling Bernd Leno by blocking his path for a kick- out. Early on Aubameyang met Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s free-kick and the ball hit the post. Heaton then saved a thunderous strike by Aubameyang.
Turf Moor thought Chris Wood had scored when he raced on to a Barnes flick and struck a clean finish from 20 yards. The ball skimmed the grass and bounced back off the post. Shkodran Mustafi then sensed danger to block Matt Lowton’s shot after he had gone round Leno.
Eight minutes into the second half though Burnley were the architects of their own downfall. Jack Cork’s backwards pass was a little loose and Ben Mee was slow to react. Aubameyang seized the ball, ran clear, and applied a composed low finish.
Burnley were victims to quality for Aubameyang’s second soon after. Iwobi appeared to have few options in a crowded penalty box, but lifted his head and chipped a cross to the far post where Aubameyang was waiting. He lashed in a volley. Two minutes later Burnley responded. Johann Berg Gudmundsson reached the byline and picked out Barnes, who leant back and headed in.
Aubameyang could have got his hat-trick 16 minutes from time. Mkhitaryan’s low cross just needed nudging in four yards out. But as Aubameyang slid in the ball hit his back and went wide.