Arsenal continued their fine recent record at Wembley with victory over Liverpool in the Community Shield, the win over the Premier League champions adding more silverware to the club’s cabinet and providing another example of their progress under Mikel Arteta.
Arteta’s arrival has seen Arsenal make positive steps after several seasons of decline and the Gunners look a more well-rounded outfit under the Spaniard’s guidance, though the star of the show undoubtedly remains club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
No player has scored more Premier League goals than Aubameyang since his arrival in English football two-and-a-half years ago, whilst the Gabon international has also shown his ability to deliver on the biggest of stages, including some sensational showings at the national stadium.
We’ve decided to look back at Aubameyang’s magnificent record in Wembley fixtures, the Arsenal captain having proven the difference-maker for his side during their recent triumphs:
Arsenal 2-0 Manchester City (FA Cup semi-final)
Arsenal headed into the last four of the FA Cup as underdogs for the competition and faced a difficult semi-final clash with reigning holders Manchester City, a side which had won the last seven successive meetings between the teams in all competitions.
The clash pitted together Arteta and former mentor Pep Guardiola, with the former – who left his role as assistant at Man City to take charge of Arsenal – getting the better of the Cityzens coach to guide the Gunners into the cup final.
A fine defensive performance provided the platform for Aubameyang to become the match-winner, opening the scoring with a brilliant first-time finish after just 19 minutes.
The goal showcased Aubameyang’s fine technique as he guided home Nicolas Pepe’s cross with the outside of his right foot, ghosting in at the back post from his position on Arsenal’s left flank and finishing superbly.
A BIG game & a BIG goal for @Aubameyang7 ????????#EmiratesFACup @Arsenal pic.twitter.com/POOkURxX0X
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) July 18, 2020
City dominated possession for large periods but their hopes of a final appearance were extinguished following a quintessential Aubameyang goal, the 31-year-old bursting clear of the defence before finishing with aplomb, keeping his composure to calmly roll the ball past Ederson.
The victory kept Arsenal on course to lift a first major trophy under Arteta and showed the Gunners ability to produce results against England’s leading sides, their organisation and well thought out game-plan allowing the talents of Aubameyang to flourish in attack.
Cool, calm & collected, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ????#EmiratesFACup #ARSMCI pic.twitter.com/Skjo5q9OmN
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) July 18, 2020
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea (FA Cup final)
Arsenal’s victory over Manchester City saw the club progress to a record 21st FA Cup final, where they would meet Chelsea once more at Wembley, the fifth major final meeting between the two London rivals in all competitions.
Once more it was the talismanic Aubameyang who proved the difference at the national stadium, scoring both goals as the Gunners came from behind to win a record-extending 14th FA Cup and fourth in the past seven seasons.
Christian Pulisic’s early goal had threatened to ruin Arsenal’s day, only for Aubameyang to bring the sides level from the penalty spot. It was the forward’s blistering pace that left Cesar Azpilicueta in all kinds of trouble and resulted in the Spaniard hauling down Aubameyang in the penalty area, the Gunners’ captain confidently stepping up and sending Willy Caballero the wrong way to equalise.
Spot on, @Aubameyang7 ????#HeadsUpFACupFinal #ARSCHE pic.twitter.com/qxgcVgitIY
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) August 1, 2020
The brilliance of Aubameyang was most evident with his stunning strike to secure the trophy for Arsenal, however, the forward making a mockery of Kurt Zouma with his nimble footwork before lifting the ball over Caballero to put the Gunners ahead.
It was trademark Aubameyang, shifting the ball away from an outstretched leg of the defender with his right before executing a delightful chipped finish over the goalkeeper, a fluid movement that provided a reminder of the star’s world-class finishing ability.
Many questioned whether the forward would buy into Arteta’s methods after being shifted from a central role out onto the wing, but the positional change has done little to diminish his output, Aubameyang scoring prolifically in addition to providing an industry and work-rate often lacking by Arsenal’s rather submissive sides in recent seasons.
???????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????? of @Aubameyang7's #HeadsUpFACupFinal winning goal ???? pic.twitter.com/bakIZFXOff
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) August 4, 2020
Arsenal’s FA Cup final victory booked a Community Shield date with Premier League champions Liverpool, a side which had finished seven places and a mammoth 43 points clear of the Gunners in the league last season.
Arteta had already shown his ability to nullify the Reds’ formidable forward line with a late season league victory over the newly-crowned champions, with Arsenal once again producing a confident display to add more silverware to their collection.
It was Aubameyang once again who underlined his importance to this side with a scintillating showing on the left, exposing the inexperience of teenage right-back Neco Williams and opening the scoring in fine style.
Aubameyang cut inside the youthful Welshman before firing an emphatic finish into the far corner, with no Arsenal player having now scored more than the star’s five goals at Wembley.
Superb from @Aubameyang7! ???? #CommunityShield pic.twitter.com/LNFi94tFFT
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) August 29, 2020
Liverpool hit back to equalise through Takumi Minamino’s first goal in English football, a penalty shoot-out needed to separate the two sides after 90 minutes of action ended in a stalemate.
Rhian Brewster – brought on as a late substitute by Jurgen Klopp ahead of the shoot-out – crashed his kick against the crossbar to hand Arsenal an opportunity to win the trophy with Aubameyang stepping up to take the decisive penalty.
There were few who expected him to miss.
Aubameyang confidently sent Alisson the wrong way with a powerful side-footed effort, securing Arsenal’s second piece of silverware in a matter of weeks at Wembley and writing another chapter into his career at the Emirates.
It just HAD to be @Aubameyang7 ????#CommunityShield #ARSLIV pic.twitter.com/s4xPX4teao
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) August 30, 2020
His current record now stands at a phenomenal 71 goals in just 110 appearances, the club’s desperation to secure a new deal for the forward coming as little surprise to those who have watched Aubameyang strike fear into defences across English football.
Three fixtures at Wembley throughout 2020 have delivered an incredible five goals from just six shots on target, Aubameyang the undisputed main man for an Arsenal side searching for progress and honours in the coming seasons.
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