Ian Wright has suggested that Pierre Emerick Aubameyang’s place in Arsenal’s team is actually under threat now.
Speaking on the Kelly and Wrighty Show, the Arsenal legend was waxing lyrical about the impact that Emile Smith Rowe has made on the side.
The youngster has come in and sparked Arsenal into life in a forward sense, with the Gunners winning their last three games in a row.
Smith Rowe’s place now seems nailed on, but Aubameyang’s starting spot may not be as certain.
Despite an improvement from his teammate, Aubameyang has continued to struggle for goals.
And Wright thinks that the only place in Arsenal’s attack which is up for grabs is on the left-wing, with Arteta needing to decide between Aubameyang and Gabriel Martinelli.
“All of a sudden Arsenal got a link between midfield and the front and there’s something happening in respects of not just counter-attacking, but you can build,” Wright said.
“That’s what’s happened it’s the energy and the quickness of thought of someone like Emile Smith Rowe who wants to create and get into the box.
“You’ve seen Lacazette now with someone like Smith Rowe behind him he looks like a different player, something like four or five goals now he’s got simply because of the way Arsenal can play.
“That is what Arteta has to sort out now, is he going to play Aubameyang or Martinelli? The common denominator is Smith Rowe electrifying everything, so now in that last third of the pitch there is now a capability of creating something.”
It seems unthinkable that Arteta could drop Aubameyang, but the £56 million Arsenal forward (BBC Sport) has been so out of form that taking him out the firing line may actually benefit him.
Arsenal take on Newcastle United tomorrow, with Martinelli are probable starter in the contest, and if the Brazilian can hit the back of the net he will put Aubameyang’s place under even more pressure.
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