Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s performance for Arsenal didn’t go down well among Portuguese media last night.
The Gunners were held to a 1-1 draw by Benfica in the first leg of a last-32 Europa League tie.
But Arsenal could and perhaps should have killed off the tie last night.
Aubameyang, who scored a Premier League hat-trick last weekend, could’ve scored another treble on a different day but fluffed three glorious goalscoring chances.
As a result, the North Londoners’ hopes of reaching the last 16 hang very much on a knife edge.
And here’s what Portuguese outlet A Bola wrote about the 31-year-old striker, who was given a 3/10 rating.
“Caught four times offside in the first half. He had two occasions that could have ended the tie. He shot to the side, alone, at 19 minutes, lost in dribbling at 75.”
Aubameyang has been blowing hot and cold all season but now is the time Arsenal need him at his very best.
Winning the Europa League represents their best chance of playing Champions League football next season.
Mikel Arteta’s side are 10th in the Premier League and therefore finishing in the top four seems unlikely, it has to be said.
But unless Aubameyang is at his red-hot best, there’s no chance of Arsenal winning this competition.
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