It’s becoming abundantly clear that Arsenal captain and striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is no longer the threat he once was in the Premier League, and the Gunners no longer have a striker in their possession that can grab 20 plus goals per season, especially on the big occasions.
The man that fans once felt could rival Thierry Henry’s goal tally offers average or predictable performances and only seems to score goals against patchy sides. Hand-in-heart, who has been excited by Aubameyang in front of the goal this season? Who believes that he can help Arsenal push for a top-six?
Arsenal are gun-shy in front of goal and it’s hard to see where they will come from with Lacazette warming the bench and Aubameyang performing erratically. Arteta had problems at the back, he had problems with creativity and now he is faced with a striking conundrum that could undo all the good work of the Spaniard and Edu Gaspar in the summer transfer window.
The Arsenal manager must feel like he is trying to plug the holes in a large barrel but he’s fast running out of fingers and toes as more appear. The biggest problem for Arsenal this season appears to be firepower and unless it’s remedied in the summer, it’s more of the same.
Arsenal were so utterly dysfunctional on Arteta’s arrival that he has had to firefight from day one and he’s still doing it today. His problems have just changed departments and with the season already underway, there is no way of adding an instant cure.
The manager will be acutely aware that without bringing in a reliable striker that can grab 20-25 goals a season, Arsenal will just be chasing their own tails every term. The performance in the Brighton vs Arsenal game shouldn’t be taken out of context but Aubameyang wasn’t at the races and didn’t look comfortable on a wet and blustery pitch.
The fact is that Aubameyang has been rumbled out on the left and it’s become easy to prevent the trademark cut in, and shot. His attempts at the centre-forward role have been equally poor and it’s hard to see him anything less than a hindrance in these slug-fest matches against supposedly inferior opposition.
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Many say that his performances have dipped since the contract extension, but I just think, perhaps, he doesn’t fit into the style of play and perhaps, his general game isn’t good enough in the hustle and bustle of the Premier League. I’d dearly love to be proved wrong this season but in current form, I’d have no objection to him moving on in the summer if we can find a quality alternative such as Alexander Isak (Real Sociedad)
We’ve all been complicit in providing our number 14 with excuses recently. We’ve also been understanding and inventive with the various reasons as to why he can’t find the back of the net. Illness, personal issues and lack of service, but now it’s time to deliver or go.
