The experienced striker’s goals helped Mikel Arteta clinch what remains the only silverware of his tenure after his matchwinning performance in the 2020 FA Cup final against his current employers.
Aubameyang and Arteta’s relationship deteriorated rapidly, however, and culminated in a move to Barcelona 18 months ago that, at the time, suited all parties.
The Spanish giants, beset with financial constraints, were forced to sell the 33-year-old little more than six months after signing him but he has hardly featured for Chelsea under both Graham Potter or Frank Lampard.
Chelsea’s abysmal goalscoring form has seen the club’s interim boss belatedly turn to Aubameyang just in time for him to potentially make his first league start since the reverse fixture back in November.
Ahead of that reunion, Aubameyang stoked the flames by appearing in a preview advertisement declaring his defection to Chelsea was ‘nothing personal’ but Odegaard insists his old teammate will be given a warm greeting.
He said: ‘We will welcome Auba back tonight as well. I played with him a bit before he left here, and I know about the amazing things he did here before that.
He had some really good moments here, especially winning the FA Cup. We remember the great things he did for the club, and he’s a great guy as well.’
Arsenal, meanwhile, can regain leadership of the Premier League, albeit temporarily, by completing a rare double over their west London rivals.
A four game run without a win has killed Arsenal’s momentum but Odegaard hopes his side can still finish the campaign strongly.
He added: ‘Now we have to look at the next games, starting tonight against Chelsea. All we can do now is do our own job properly, and not look anywhere else.
We have to make sure we win the rest of the games, but we need to just look at it day by day, get back to doing the simple things and doing everything properly as we have done all season.
Leave a Reply