Arsenal have been here before. Indeed, the situation they are now facing with regards to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s future is a familiar one.
Emmanuel Adebayor, Samir Nasri, Alexis Sanchez and perhaps most notably Robin van Persie all found themselves, at one point or another, frustrated at the Gunners’ inability to challenge for honours, ultimately leaving to fulfil their ambitions of silverware elsewhere. Aubameyang is reportedly at a similar crossroads.
The Gabonese striker has been Arsenal’s best player since arriving from Borussia Dortmund in a club-record £56million transfer in January 2018. Aubameyang has scored 49 times in 75 Premier League outings and is, by quite some distance, the most dependable goalscorer Mikel Arteta has.
From a purely footballing perspective, Arsenal must convince the 30-year-old that he can achieve his career objectives by staying where he is and nothing would do that more effectively than some shrewd signings. Thomas Partey, for one, would be the sort of addition that might persuade Aubameyang to remain at the club
While Atletico Madrid have endured a difficult season, Partey has impressed. The Ghanaian is a two-way central midfielder capable of protecting the back four, winning the ball back and driving it up the pitch at pace.
He is exactly the sort of player Arteta needs in the middle of the pitch and exactly the sort of player who could get even more out of Aubameyang.
One of the criticisms made of Arsenal in recent times is that they are too slow, too ponderous in midfield and into the final third. Mesut Ozil is often the target of this allegation, although the German is a lot better at playing through the lines of transition than many are willing to give him credit for.
Partey has averaged 2.1 tackles per La Liga appearance this season ( as per WhoScored ) as well as 1.4 interceptions. He is Atletico Madrid’s most prolific dribbler, averaging an impressive 1.9 per game this season. These are qualities that equip him to excel as the sort of hybrid number six/number eight that has become prevalent in the modern game.
Aubameyang, in theory, would be an excellent outlet for Partey, whether it’s out left or through the middle as a true centre forward.
The Gabonese international thrives when he has space to gallop into and that’s what Partey opens up, drawing opponents to him, giving him the opportunity to move the ball in behind them. It could be something of a footballing cheat code for the Gunners.
Of course, many believed Henrikh Mkhitaryan would be Aubameyang’s supply line at Arsenal having forged a strong understanding with the striker at Borussia Dortmund.
That past relationship was surely a big factor in the Gunners’ decision to ask Manchester United for the Armenian in exchange for Alexis Sanchez, but Mkhitaryan is now out on loan at Roma and seems destined to soon leave north London for good.
There are no guarantees in football, especially when it comes to the transfer market, but signing Partey to both facilitate Aubameyang and prove to him that Arsenal are heading in the right direction would appear to be a solid bet with the Gunners already at a crossroads under their new manager.
Aubameyang's appetite for Champions League football is clear - and the addition of Partey would only strengthen the Gunners' chances of achieving a top-four finish and, with it, the European qualification their striker craves.
His arrival would serve as the rare combination of a statement signing and a signing who would perform a clear and much-needed role in Arteta’s team.
The 26-year-old’s reported €50million (£44.5million) release clause has attracted the attention of many clubs, but few would have such a need for the midfielder. Aubameyang might need him too.
