African All Stars

How has Chelsea’s Aubameyang fared against Manchester United in the past?

Seye Omidiora
Last updated
Comments (0)
Aubameyang
Getty
The forward has had a mixed run against the Manchester giants, but will back himself to be decisive on Saturday

If Graham Potter had selection doubts before Chelsea’s meeting with Manchester United on Saturday, his attackers’ performances at Brentford cleared any indecision.

Armando Broja understandably had a mixed performance on his first start for the club. The Albanian’s pace intermittently made Ben Mee nervous and he applied himself commendably against the Bees.

However, a failure to execute was his undoing, as was the broader rawness of his game.

For Kai Havertz, it was an abject evening.

The Germany international struggled in and out of possession, especially with the ball where he either lost it easily or made the wrong choices in promising situations.

Indeed, it was a surprise that Potter kept the former Bayer Leverkusen star on the pitch for as long as he did at the Brentford Community Stadium.

The enduring feeling at full-time was that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang offered more in his nine-minute cameo, a harsh assessment in itself, but one rooted in the frustration felt at Havertz’s awful showing.

Chelsea have not claimed a Premier League win in nine matches against United since an Alvaro Morata header gave them a 1-0 success in November 2017.

Back at Stamford Bridge this weekend after two gameweeks on the road, Potter’s decision on Saturday looks to be straightforward — in part due to the rest afforded to Aubameyang on Wednesday and Broja and Havertz’s failure to sow seeds of uncertainty in their manager’s mind.

Having said that, the Gabonese has not had it all his way in previous encounters with the Red Devils.

Editors' Picks

  1. How many times has Auba featured against Manchester United?
    Getty Images

    How many times has Auba featured against Manchester United?

    The forward made seven Premier League appearances for Arsenal against the Red Devils from the second half of the 2017-18 campaign till the 2021-22 campaign.

    This could have been eight but the early termination of the striker’s contract with the Gunners meant his last appearance for the North London club came at Old Trafford. It ended 3-2 to the Red Devils.

  2. Goals and Expected Goals
    Getty Images

    Goals and Expected Goals

    The 32-year-old has a decent record against Manchester United, scoring three times in seven games.

    Those goals have come from Expected Goals (xG) of 3.2.

  4. Breakdown of goals
    Getty Images

    Breakdown of goals

    Two of Aubameyang’s goals have come from the spot, with the other coming from open play.

    Interestingly, the centre-forward netted two of those three strikes at Old Trafford, netting just once at the Emirates Stadium.

  5. Top moment
    Getty

    Top moment

    Aubameyang’s standout moment against the Red Devils came in the 2020-21 season where he converted the penalty at Old Trafford to end Arsenal's 14-year Premier League wait for a win at the Theatre of Dreams.

    The Gunners had gone 13 games without a league win at United since Emmanuel Adebayor's late effort in September 2006.

    However, in a game that may be remembered for Arteta’s utilisation of Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny in stopping Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes, Aubameyang’s composure from the spot with 20 minutes remaining was what decided the game.

    Arsenal have not recorded another victory at Old Trafford since November 2020, losing 3-2 and 3-1 in the last two seasons.

  7. Worst moment
    Getty

    Worst moment

    This came in Aubameyang’s very first Premier League meeting with United, months after joining the North London club in January 2018.

    It was Arsene Wenger’s last visit to Old Trafford but the game ended in defeat to old nemesis Jose Mourinho.

    The Gabonese was quiet on the day, strikingly recording xG of 0 in the 2-1 loss.

    That defeat extended the Manchester outfit’s unbeaten home league run against Arsenal to 11 games at the time.

  8. Should Potter start the frontman on Saturday?
    Getty Images

    Should Potter start the frontman on Saturday?

    Without a doubt.

    While Aubameyang underwhelmed in last weekend’s win at Aston Villa, an encouraging cameo at Bournemouth, Broja’s rawness and Havertz’s inconsistent form mean the Chelsea boss is likely to trust the ex-Arsenal man from the off this weekend.

    An easy decision for Potter.