Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang skips Borussia Dortmund training

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Arsenal fans were given permission to dream big on Sunday after 'The Sun' claimed Arsene Wenger was preparing to spend £42million to bring Borussia Dortmund star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang this January.

Having already scored 24 goals in all competitions this season, including 18 in the Bundesliga, the Gabon international is statistically the most deadly striker across Europe's top five leagues.

As a result, it is no surprise to see him linked with some of the biggest clubs from across the continent. Indeed, Manchester United have also been credited with an interest this week.


However exciting, most fans brought themselves back down to earth, clearly expecting Wenger to follow his usual methods of sticking with what he's got, but following Aubameyang's absence from Dortmund training today, speculation has roared into overdrive.

A club spokesman claimed Aubameyang had been absent for "personal reasons", which, of course, could be taken in any number of ways. Some have decided to take it as an absolute certainty that he is moving to the Premier League.

Replaceable

Aubameyang's mystery absence from Thomas Tuchel's training session comes just a day after Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke admitted that no one was irreplaceable with regards to the striker.

Watzke told Bild: “One must never make the mistake to believe that a club like BVB is dependent on a player. We are not dependent on anyone. When Robert Lewandowski left, we found [a replacement] and he even has three more goals than Lewa. We are now so well positioned that we can offer alternative solutions again and again."
 

Impossible becomes possible

So, it appears that the impossible could well be possible at the season's midway point. Arsenal have plenty of money to spend following Wenger's penny pinching in the summer and Aubameyang would provide a significant boost to their Premier League title hopes.

The Gunners are currently top of the division and striker Olivier Giroud has been in fine form thus far. However, there is still a consensus amongst the Emirates faithful that a world-class striker will be required to lift Arsenal above their rivals.

Aubameyang, with incredible pace and power, would represent a dream come true for most.