Aubameyang scored only 4 Premier League goals for Arsenal before making the switch to La Liga outfit, Barcelona, where Xavi is now his new coach
By Kehinde Okeowo
Barcelona gaffer Xavi Hernandez has praised former Arsenal striker, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after scoring a hat-trick in the 4-2 win against Valencia on Sunday.
The 32-year-old forward arrived from Arsenal in the January window, having scored only four Premier League goals before he was banished from the first team in December by Mikel Arteta.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang however, silenced his critics by scoring three times for Barcelona in their Sunday’s encounter with Valencia, meaning he is just a goal shy of his total league goals for Arsenal this season.
The Gabon international scored three of the four goals that handed the Blaugrana the 4-1 away win and the coach praised him afterward.
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Xavi Hernandez told Marca after the game that he was happy for the striker, who according to him has scored goals everywhere he has played.
He went on to say he uses space well and called him a ‘mature, intelligent, humble, and positive’ player.
He said, “He has scored goals all his career. He gets into space well. He is mature, intelligent, humble, and positive.
“I am delighted with him. The goals will give him confidence.”
Despite the victory, Xavi felt there is room for improvement, saying the team had to dig deep in some moments during the match.
He was, however, satisfied with the outcome of the match given how difficult it is to play away at Valencia.
He also said the team will take a little break before their Europa game against Napoli on Thursday.
“We have peace of mind until Thursday. And then, on Sunday… and so on,” he said. “I am very satisfied and happy. We were not as brilliant or excellent as [we were] in some moments against Napoli, but we were effective.
“We also showed that we can suffer. We suffered in the second half, we lacked [taking a] pause and calmness.
“The first half was very good. The game was difficult. It was a match in which he had to roll up our sleeves.
“Another game away from home in which we leave satisfied. We leave with three excellent points from a difficult ground. The victory is very good. The goals were fantastic.” Xavi said.
On his part, Aubameyang thanked his teammates for welcoming him and asserted that the warm welcome resulted in the goals.
“Yeah, I feel very happy but I think it is due to the team because they welcomed me like I have been a player for a long time. I feel very good and I am happy and that is why I think I scored today [Sunday],” Aubameyang said.
The former Arsenal captain also said the win against Valencia is a perfect way to prepare for the UEFA Europa League game against Napoli on Thursday.
He added, “For sure this is the best way for the team to win on Thursday because it gives a lot of confidence and yes, we are ready to go and win this [Napoli] game.”
Aubameyang before his move to the La Liga outfit fell out of favour with his coach at Arsenal and was stripped of the captain’s armband and banished from the first team.
With the three goals, he joins the other 20 players who have put their names on the score sheet for the Spanish club this season.