Ian Wright believes Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gave what Chelsea had been missing last season in their 2-1 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Two Chelsea players scored their first goals for the club at the weekend; Aubameyang and Conor Gallagher, and they did it when the team really needed it.
Gallagher’s winning strike, which impressed even John Terry, may have stolen the limelight, but Aubameyang’s equaliser was just as important.
Graham Potter’s men had not been able to register any shot on target in the first half until the 33-year-old displayed his striker’s instinct and scored a beautiful volley.
It is safe to say that Wright was not surprised by the goal.
Wright says Aubameyang gave what Chelsea had been missing
“The movement he gave is something Chelsea had been missing — a proper number nine,” the former England international told BBC MOTD.
“This [the volley] is where he’s fantastic at. [He] got himself on the right side and instinctively knew where the goal was.
“This is the kind of player Chelsea missed; a centre forward linking it up.
“Once [the other players] get used to his movement and what he does, we know that he’s very, very clinical.
“He’s going to be a good signing because he’s somebody I’ve got a lot of respect for.”
Wright also highlighted how Aubameyang was more involved in the build-up in the game, dropping deep on several occasions to help out in midfield.
The Gabonese striker’s tendency to drift wide also allowed players such as Raheem Sterling and Kai Havertz to get into dangerous positions inside the penalty box.
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