Paul Merson has stated that Mikel Arteta ‘won’t have it’ with Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, as he told Soccer Saturday on Sky Sports (04/12/21 at 2:00 pm).
On Thursday night, during Arsenal’s defeat at Manchester United, Aubameyang was subbed off in the second-half, even though his team needed a goal.
It was a call that was criticised by Highbury legend Thierry Henry, as he questioned his tactics on Amazon Prime.
Rather than Alexandre Lacazette being partnered with the Arsenal captain to chase that much-needed goal, he came on as his replacement instead.
But Merson pointed towards Aubameyang’s lack of effort as a reason behind it and why Arteta just won’t allow it.
“I think he was that poor that’s why he took him off,” said Merson. “He won’t have this. I will give him his dues, he won’t have it.
“If you’re not running around, you’re not trying your hardest, setting an example as captain and the most experienced player, then he won’t mess about.
“To be fair to Arteta, he isn’t one of those that goes ‘oh, who is the youngest? I will take him off’. He goes ‘get off, off you come. I don’t care. You run around’.
“Otherwise, these young kids will look at him and think ‘he does that, so I will do that’, so fair play to him.”
In truth, Aubameyang has looked the shadow of himself for more than a season now and that player that helped the North London club win the FA Cup seems to be long gone.
Some would even question whether he should start for Arsenal because his performances haven’t been up to scratch compared to others.
Gabriel Martinelli showed his captain how it should be done at Old Trafford, but will the young gun be handed back-to-back starts?
It’s rare enough that Martinelli is earning a Premier League start because the last time that happened before Thursday was on the two opening weekends of the campaign.
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