Red-hot Aubameyang will have his eyes on Golden Boot

Originally, Arsene Wenger needed some persuading to give Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s signing the green light in January 2018.

Unai Emery should be relieved his predecessor relented.

Paying £56million - a club record - for a 28-year-old didn’t add up for Wenger.

Wenger always preferred to sign a younger profile of footballer - preferably one with a potential resale value.

There were also concerns about the then Borussia Dortmund striker’s attitude. Reports of Aubameyang skipping training and his penchant for a party, or two, had got back to Wenger.

But then head of recruitment Sven Mislintat, having worked Aubameyang in Dortmund, was convinced the Gabon star was exactly what Arsenal needed to refresh their forward line that had started to stutter.

Eventually, Wenger caved and Aubameyang became the Frenchman’s final signing. Thirty-six goals later, you wonder where Arsenal would be without him.

His penalty in the disappointing draw with Brighton was Aubameyang’s 20th of the Premier League season - just two shy of Mohamed Salah going into the final weekend of the campaign.

His 26 goals in total - and his 10 in just 14 games at the back end of last season - accentuates his huge importance to post-Wenger Arsenal.

Arsenal’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League though domestic means are almost certainly over following the Brighton stalemate.

But they are in with a great chance of lifting the Europa League, which would secure them entry back into European football’s elite club competition; they head into their semi-final second leg clash against Valencia on Thursday with a 3-1 advantage.

But Aubameyang also has silverware on his mind in the shape of the Premier League Golden Boot.

'When you're a striker it means a lot,' said Aubameyang, on Thursday night. When you win it, it's always a pleasure. If you want to be the best you have to win the Golden Boot.

'It's a tough battle. We have great strikers in the Premier League. They are so consistent all season. They score and they score and they score. The best strikers are just waiting to score all season. That's what makes them so special.

'But I am a guy who is confident and I know that I can do it. No problem if not but there's still two games to play in the Premier League so I have my chances and why not?’

Salah remains in pole position for the accolade, but his worrying head injury sustained in Liverpool’s win over Newcastle on Saturday night could preclude the Egyptian in featuring in a final day strikers shoot-out.

Sergio Aguero, Sadio Mane and Aubameyang will head into the season finale on 20 goals. The Premier League title and Champions League football won’t be the only dangling carrot next week.