Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been a hero for Arsenal fans since joining almost three years ago.
The Gabon international, who joined the Gunners in January of 2018, has since netted 56 goals in 93 Premier League outings.
He has hit a rough patch this season, netting only four goals in his 10 games so far – a disappointing return by his own huge standards.
Still, he is the closest Arsenal fans have had to a superhero since Thierry Henry – and he literally even acts like it, too.
Immediately after scoring, Aubameyang has been known to reveal a rubber mask from his sock, pull it over his face and run off celebrating.
The former Borussia Dortmund hitman has celebrated as Spiderman, Deadpool, Batman and Black Panther in recent years.
It’s a harmless gesture and one that Arsenal and Dortmund supporters have enjoyed, but one man who isn’t a fan is Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos.
The Germany midfielder has described it a ‘nonsense’ tradition and claimed that Aubameyang isn’t the best role model for doing so.
He said to the Einfach mal Luppen podcast in Germany: “I find it very silly. Even worse is if there are any objects hidden in their socks. Aubameyang once celebrated and took out a mask. That’s where it ends with me. I don’t think that’s a good role model, either. What nonsense.”
To suggest that it makes Aubameyang a poor role model is a little daft, it has to be said.
In terms of being a professional footballer, the 31-year-old invariably makes the headlines for the right reasons – the goals and there’s been quite a few of them down the years, despite his penchant for a rubber mask.
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