Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Is Borussia Dortmund’s Only Hope

Borussia Dortmund’s star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is under a bit of pressure after the most recent high profile floundering.  Despite that, he is BVB’s only hope.

Two thoughts came to my mind immediately following the final whistle in Borussia Dortmund’s round of 16 match in the Champions League.  First is that how the narrative of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang can change in an instant on the internet.  The second is BVB has tied their 2016/17 season so closely to Aubameyang that he ultimately will decided how far the club can go.

Addressing the first observation, after the penalty Twitter, our account included, was a rush of Aubameyang slamming. Few of us could believe how a player could miss so many quality chances, including a penalty.  Outrage at this is understandable, if not somewhat justified, given how passionate people can be about their club.  Emotions, especially in the biggest of matches rest on the edge of a knife.  Thankfully BVB has been a position the last half decade for these meaningful matches to crop up more than most clubs.

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The abuse Aubameyang began to receive went beyond the one-off poor match type of rage.  I saw many posts about how the striker wasn’t top quality in the world and how frequently he chokes in the biggest of spotlights.

To that argument, I’d ask if you have even watched Borussia Dortmund play this season.  I understand an upset feeling directed toward Aubameyang, but to say he frequently chokes in big matches is flat out wrong.  Take a look at this season for example.  Outside of the Benfica match, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored in every one of BVB’s biggest matches.  Two goals in two against Real Madrid, a goal against Sporting CP, the winner against Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga and the winner against RB Leipzig.  The strong scoring against top level competition goes back to last season with one against Bayern Munich and one against Schalke (when they were actually good ish).

To overlook Aubameyang’s scoring record in both big matches and the every day, club sustaining matches is reckless.  As a group of supports of BVB, I think we are better than say Real Madrid who will turn on their own at the first sign of a struggle.

That bit about club sustaining scoring brings me to the second point and that is Aubameyang is Borussia Dortmund’s only option.

In the Bundesliga, only Anthony Modeste has a larger percentage of his team’s goals than Aubameyang’s 44% (stat per whoscored.com).  Even last season when Borussia Dortmund had a more healthy Marco Reus and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Aubameyang still bagged 33% of BVB’s goals.

The way Borussia Dortmund set up, they funnel much of the attack through the front striker, be it through crossing or through balls.  That has become even more of the case since the switch to the 3-5-2 with Reus playing underneath Aubameyang.  That fact is brought further into picture when you look at the shots per match stat.  Of the players who have started more than seven Bundesliga matches Aubameyang’s 3.6 SpG is almost three times higher than second (Ousmane Dembele with 1.3).  With Reus now back the stats aren’t so skewed but he is still only at 2 shots per match.

Another reason why Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is the only option for Borussia Dortmund is that the club sold off his replacement without adding a ready fill in.  Alexandar Isak might be a star, but certainly not this season and probably not for two or three.  Andre Schurrle has shown flashes (for the record I like him as a forward) but he doesn’t seem to have Thomas Tuchel’s trust to actually start when Aubameyang is fit.

Next: Borussia Dortmund vs Benfica: Match Ratings

Borussia Dortmund fans, listen, this club is only going as far as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang takes them.  If he regains his scoring form (still first in the Bundesliga by the way) a come back against Benfica is assured.  For that matter, a Champions League spot is as well, and heck who knows, maybe a DFB-Pokal trophy.

Let’s not freak out too much about one match, albeit a horrible one.  Aubameyang has earned the right to have an off night now and then.  When he does, Tuchel needs to find out a plan B instead of building a system so reliant on a singular player.