Jamie O’Hara has told talkSPORT that Arsenal are better without club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the first XI.
Arsenal marched into the semi-final of the Europa League on Thursday night with a stunning 4-0 win away to Slavia Prague.
Aubameyang stayed behind in London after it was revealed that the 31-year-old was suffering with malaria that he picked up on international duty last month.
Even before the Gabon striker’s illness, the Gunners skipper has struggled in a big way for form this season and has only managed 14 goals across all competitions.
For context, Aubameyang scored exactly 60 goals in his first two full seasons at the Emirates Stadium, illustrating his drop-off this time around.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta hasn’t been shy in axing the former Borussia Dortmund star for some major games – including the North London derby win over Tottenham Hotspur last month, having turned up late for the match – and O’Hara believes that the Spaniard should continue to leave him out of his starting lineup going forward.
He said to talkSPORT on Thursday morning: “He’s not good enough. He’s been poor this season, he doesn’t produce for the team. He’s not a leader. He’s meant to be the captain – but he’s turning up late. He doesn’t lead by example and Arsenal are a better team when he doesn’t play. He isn’t their best player anymore.”
Considering Arsenal have just picked up their best result of the season without the striker, it’s hard to argue with O’Hara’s claim that Arteta’s side aren’t exactly in dire need of him.
That being said, if he can recapture his best form between now and the end of the campaign it’s a profoundly-big boost for the North Londoners because honestly, nobody in that squad comes close to Aubameyang regarding being a goalscorer when he’s on song.
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