The news that
Robert Lewandowski will leave Borussia Dortmund for Bayern Munich is one that
further asserts the Bavarians’ dominance over German football, to be able to
sign the best players form their main title rivals is something which must be
hard for the Dortmund fans to swallow.
In the summer
Dortmund completed the signing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from
Saint-Etienne. In 36 games in Ligue 1 Gabon international Aubameyang scored 19
goals and supplied 9 assists, averaging 3.7 shots per game, an improvement from
16 goals and 7 assists the year before. His performances were enough for
Dortmund to sign the highly coveted attacking player.
The 24 year old has scored 13 goals in 15 starts (5 sub
appearances), Lewandowski has scored 1 more in 20 starts. Aubameyang has been
predominantly been deployed on the right of an attacking 3 in behind the Polish
forward. His pace means that he is more than able to play out wide, but his
more natural position is as a central striker.
Aubameyang certainly looks like he will be able to
surpass his goal tally in his first year in Germany and given how it is
generally of a higher standard than the French league, that’s testament to his
ability. Although, arguably he’s now playing in a better team alongside better
players so you’d expect an improvement in his performances.
There’s clearly a massive difference between leading the
line and playing as an attacking midfielder. Aubameyang may not have the
strength to lead the line in the same way that Lewandowski does, the latter
wins on average 4.8 headers per game, whereas Aubameyang wins just 1.2. That
could be as he’s playing out wide so there’s less long balls targeted at him,
that said, in his time with Saint Etienne he was winning less than one (0.5)
aerial duels per game. Aubameyang is still a physical presence, he’s the same
height as Lewandowski.
His style of play relies more on his pace and movement rather
than on his strength, which may fit in better with Dortmund’s counter pressing
style of play, than using Lewandowski’s aerial ability. It could lead to them
playing more on the counter, they certainly have the players to do so.
Half (18) of his performances last season where as the
central striker, in the same 4-2-3-1 formation as employed at Dortmund, so
there’s no doubt that he’s comfortable playing in that position. It probably is
his best position, although he has the ability to play in several positions, so
you’d expect an improvement if he was used there.
The decrease in the number of shots per game, from 3.7 to
2.4 is as a result of not playing as the central striker. However, he’s scored
more goals, which suggests Aubameyang has become somewhat more clinical in his
time at Dortmund.
If he is to mature to the main striking role next season,
he’s now had a season in German football
and has proved he can produce the goods on that stage and so deserves a chance
in his best position. He’s had time to acclimatise to the style of play and
German football overall, which should stand him in good stead for the future.
There’d be a level of apprehension if he was brought in as a direct replacement
without experience of the league itself.
Whether or not Klopp signed him with a view to playing
him as a central striker in the future is unknown, however it’s certainly an
option he has and given Aubameyang’s performances this season it must be one he
is considering. If not, Klopp has a player who can provide goals from a wide
area which could be as important if whoever else is brought in needs time to
settle and adjust to the style of Dortmund’s play. Lewandowski is one of the
best strikers in the world and his loss would damage any team, but in
Aubameyang Dortmund have a player who can readily fill his boots.
Statistics courtesy of whoscored.com
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