Mikel Arteta has told Football London that he has been seriously impressed by Arsenal striker Pierre Emerick Aubameyang in training over the past week.
Aubameyang has been out of sorts for much of the campaign for Arsenal this term, and was recently missing due to personal issues.
However, he blasted in a hat-trick for Arsenal in their 4-2 win over Leeds United yesterday.
And Arteta has suggested that he had a feeling that Aubameyang was getting back to his best after watching his performances in training recently.
“Yes, I thought he was superb today,” he said, after yesterday’s game. “He’s been training really good the last week or so.
“He was back to normal he looked really committed in training, really hungry.
“And I think today that he had a great performance. Not only for the goals but as well for the way he worked without the ball, the amount of pressure that he put on every Leeds defender. He set the tone for the team up top. I’m delighted for him and he deserves it.”
Intriguingly Arteta picked Aubameyang to start down the middle for Arsenal against Leeds.
Arteta wanted to have both Emile Smith Rowe and Martin Odegaard in the same team and the system worked well.
Aubameyang will now surely start again in Arsenal’s next Premier League match, with Alexandre Lacazette looking set to play a covering role, with the Gabonese international back firing.
Arsenal are next in domestic action when they take on Manchester City next Sunday.
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