African players in Europe: Double strike for chart-topper Aubameyang

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was the star African performer in Europe at the weekend, netting twice for Arsenal against Tottenham Hotspur and becoming the leading Premier League scorer.

The Gunners came from behind in the north London derby to triumph 4-2 and the Gabon star lifted his season league goal tally to 10, two more than his closest rivals.

Aubameyang hopes to emulate Egyptian Mohamed Salah of Liverpool, the leading Premier League scorer last season with 32 goals.

England
PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG (Arsenal)

The 2015 African Footballer of the Year held his nerve to slot an early penalty and then smashed in a long-range equaliser after the break to take his Premier League tally to 10 – two clear of Manchester City pair Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero and Harry Kane of Tottenham.

WILFRIED ZAHA (Crystal Palace)

The Ivorian forward, who missed the defeat against Tottenham last month with an injury, was back to his best during Crystal Palace’s 2-0 win against Burnley. The 26-year-old caused havoc in pposition ranks with his trickery, but was denied a goal to cap his performance by goalkeeper Joe Hart.

WILFRED NDIDI (Leicester City)

The 21-year-old Nigeria midfielder is becoming an increasingly influential player in the Premier League, pivotal to the Foxes’ five-match unbeaten run. His performance in a 2-0 win against Watford allowed Leicester’s more attack-minded players to get forward and trouble the visitors’ defence.

Spain
YOUSSEF EN-NESYRI (Leganes)

En-Nesyri helped Leganes to their first away win of the season as they beat Real Valladolid 4-2 in La Liga. The Moroccan provided an excellent foil for Guido Carrillo, who scored twice in the six-goal thriller, as Leganes moved up to 16th in the table.

Italy
FRANCK KESSIE (AC Milan)

Ivory Coast midfielder Kessie slotted the winner for Milan from the spot after 71 minutes for a 2-1 victory over Parma in the San Siro. It was Kessie’s third goal this season as Milan got back to winning ways after taking just one point from their previous two games.

CHRISTIAN KOUAME (Genoa)

Ivorian Kouame beat the offside trap to flick in the opener from close range for Genoa off an Andrea Belotti corner just minutes after his side had a player sent off in Turin. It was the 20-year-old’s third goal this season since arriving from Serie B side Cittadella. But hosts Torino recovered to win 2-1 as Genoa extended a winless streak to seven games.

KEITA BALDE (Inter Milan)

Senegal international Balde scored his third goal in successive games for Inter in a 2-2 draw at Roma. The 23-year-old picked up a curling Danilo D’Ambrosio cross to open the scoring for Luciano Spalletti’s side with a close-range volley after 37 minutes in the Stadio Olimpico to add to his brace against Frosinone.

Germany
NABIL BENTALEB (Schalke 04)

The Algeria midfielder rescued a point for Schalke when he converted a second-half penalty in their 1-1 draw at Hoffenheim to claim his third league goal of the season. Bentaleb calmly slotted home 17 minutes from time after a foul on Daniel Caligiuri.

France
DENIS BOUANGA/RACHID ALIOUI (Nimes)

Mid-table Nimes outplayed lowly Amiens 3-0 thanks to goals from two France-born footballers who represent African countries. Gabon winger Bouanga scored on the stroke of half-time and Morocco striker Alioui netted twice in the second half.

MAX-ALAIN GRADEL (Toulouse)/MEHDI ABEID (Dijon)

Ivorian Gradel triggered a Toulouse comeback from two goals down by scoring after 72 minutes in a 2-2 home draw against fellow strugglers Dijon, whose second goal came from Algerian Abeid.

NICOLAS PEPE (Lille)

France-born Ivory Coast international Pepe raised his Ligue 1 goal haul this season to nine — three behind pacesetter Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain — with a second goal for fourth-placed Lille in a 2-2 home draw against Lyon, who lie one place higher in the table.