Arsenal sign Aubameyang in club record transfer
LONDON: Pierre- Emerick Aubameyang joined Arsenal from Borussia Dortmund for a club record fee of £ 56 million (63.7 million euros, 79.2 million euros) on Wednesday, in the biggest deal so far on transfer deadline day.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger – who last August kept the football world on tenterhooks as he held out selling Alexis Sanchez to Manchester City because he failed to secure Thomas Lemar from Monaco – did not wait until the last minute to land the Gabon striker.
Wenger, who saw his team lose 3-1 at resurgent Swansea City on Tuesday, persuaded the Arsenal board to pay more for the 28year- old than the £ 46.5 million they shelled out for Frenchman ALexandre Lacazet t e last August.
Dortmund have eyed up a sixmonth loan move for Belgian international Michy Batshuayi from champions Chelsea, who have stipulated there will be no option to buy at the end of that period.
“Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has joined us from Borussia Dortmund on a long-term contract for a club-record fee,” the statement from Arsenal said.
The club described him as “one of the world’s most highly-rated strikers”.
“He scored 98 goals in 144 Bundesliga games for Dortmund and had a hand in 172 goals in 213 matches in all competitions for his former club,” it continued.
Aubameyang’s arrival should see French veteran Olivier Giroud completing the musical chairs by signing for Chelsea even though Wenger was loathe to let him move to a rival as Sanchez joined Manchester United earlier this
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has joined us from Borussia Dortmund on a long-term contract for a club-record fee. Arsenal FC
month.
However, the French striker is keen to stay in London as he seeks regular first team action to secure his place in France’s World Cup squad.
Aubameyang will alleviate the pressure on Lacazette although he would be ineligible for the Europa League having already played in the Champions League this campaign.
Meanwhile, Wenger’s side are still without an away victory in 2018 after they lost a first-half lead, given to them by Nacho Monreal, within 60 seconds.
Sam Clucas equalised for Swansea and then scored his second four minutes from time, but the game turned on a dreadful error by Arsenal keeper Petr Cech, which allowed Swansea’s Jordan Ayew to put his side 2-1 ahead.
“We were not convincing, offensively or defensively,” Wenger added.
“You make mistakes and there is not always a rational explanation. But perhaps it highlights the whole lack of quality and concentration we showed tonight.
“They ( Swansea) were more decisive. Maybe there is a confidence problem as well.”
For Swansea manager Carlos Carvalhal the victory was his third in five Premier League matches since he took charge and lifted his club from bottom of the table to above the relegation zone. — AFP