Andy Townsend has stated that Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has presented Mikel Arteta with a ‘dilemma’, as he told Premier League Productions (06/12/21 at 7:55 pm).
The former Aston Villa captain stated that ‘fair play’ to Arteta for dropping Aubameyang to the bench for Arsenal’s away defeat to Everton.
Arsenal suffered a 3-2 defeat at Manchester United on Thursday night and Aubameyang didn’t have the best of games at Old Trafford, hence Arteta’s call.
Things didn’t exactly get better for the Arsenal speedster when he was introduced into the action last night because he scuffed his shot well past the post from 10 yards out in stoppage-time.
That passage of play turned out to be the last kick of the game, as Aubameyang looked distraught by what had just happened.
Townsend stated that there are times when Aubameyang can be ‘so far off his game’ and it’s like the Gunners are playing with ‘ten men’.
“Fair play to him (Arteta for dropping Auba),” said Townsend.
“When it’s you captain as well, then it can present a bit of a dilemma towards a coach, particularly a coach trying to find the best solutions and the best part forward for his club.
“I think it’s the right call. With Aubamayng, I watch him somedays and I see a real predatory striker, then other days it’s like you are playing with ten men. He is so far off his game.”
To put it simply, Aubameyang hasn’t been himself ever since he signed that new contract over one-and-a-half seasons ago.
That player that fired the Gunners to the FA Cup seems long gone now and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him leave during one of the next two transfer windows.
The fact that Arteta is dropping such a senior figure after a defeat says it all, and in truth, the Gabon star should have no complaints.
Some may look towards Arteta himself, but these players need to be held accountable for their actions out on the field, or lack of them.
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