PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG has faced some superstar defenders – but says Tyrone Mings is the toughest.
Former Arsenal striker Aubameyang, 32, and current Aston Villa centre-half Mings, 28, have squared off in five Prem clashes since 2019.
Perhaps surprisingly, Villa and skipper Mings have won three of those matches and kept clean sheets in each victory.
The Gunners won the other two and Auba scored in both of those clashes, including a late winner in September 2019 following Villa’s promotion back to the top flight.
So despite the world-class defenders ex-AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund and now Barcelona forward Aubameyang will have tackled – it is perhaps understandable why he has singled out England star Mings.
When asked in a video interview by Mundo Deportivo to name his toughest-ever opponent, Auba pauses to think and then names the player who started his senior career at non-league Yate Town.
Gabon star Auba was talking to the Spanish newspaper after scoring a hat-trick in 4-1 win and his his first La Liga start for Barca against Valencia on Sunday.
It was the ex-Arsenal captain’s fourth game for his new club after sealing his January switch from the Gunners.
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He is now the first player ever to score hat-tricks in the Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga and French Ligue 1.
Aubameyang netted seven goals in 15 games for Arsenal this season before being left out in the cold back in December.
He was the subject of a disciplinary breach after returning late from a trip abroad and that led to him losing their captaincy and leaving.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk