Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang joined Arsenal to make the step up to a ‘bigger’ club, but admits the North London side were the only ones to make a real offer for him.

Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of Arsenal’s league game against Manchester City, Aubameyang admitted he needed to take the next step in his career to achieve what he wants to in Europe.

“It was the next step for me, it’s a big club,” he said. “For me, it’s a bit bigger than Dortmund, and this was a good step for me and my career. I didn’t want to go, for example, to China, because I want to do a lot of things here in Europe before I think about China or America.

“Arsenal were the only club who made an offer, a real offer. I’m really happy, because it’s a good club.”

Aubameyang is probably right that he needed to take another step in his career. Although he’d become a prolific goalscorer with Dortmund, the team were taking backwards steps.

It must be hard to score almost a goal a game for two-and-a-half league seasons and watch your side drop down the table anyway. Even now, when they’re second in the standings and on a good run of form, they’re still 19 points behind Bayern.

It’s a bit surprising to hear that only Arsenal made a ‘real offer’ though. There aren’t many strikers in Europe who score as consistently as the Gabon international.

Most likely it had a lot to do with the fact that all the top Premier League clubs already had a big name striker.

Chelsea and Manchester United spent a lot of money on Alvaro Morata and Romelu Lukaku over the summer. Harry Kane is still scoring a goal a game for Tottenham, and Sergio Aguero still isn’t slowing down with City.

Firmino isn’t really on the same level in terms of scoring, but he fits Liverpool’s style better than anyone. Only Arsenal really needed a new striker, and fortunately they got one. Hopefully they can work on making a few more chances for him now.