Tony Cascarino has claimed that Arsenal often have to carry Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The 31-year-old striker signed a new contract with the Gunners in September, drawing a line under a lot of speculation regarding his future.
But since then the former Borussia Dortmund hitman has struggled in a major way and has only scored two Premier League goals from eight games this season overall – a poor return by his own huge standards.
And although Cascarino is a fan of the striker, the pundit claims that the Arsenal star can turn it on and off when he likes, suggesting that he’s a passenger a lot of the time.
He told Saturday Sports Breakfast’s show on talkSPORT [broadcast 14/11]: “Aubameyang always confuses me. I have to be careful how I choose my words because I know he’s so much better than what I’ve ever been.
“He’s a great player when he wants to be and up there with the very best, but when he doesn’t it feels like you’re carrying him. He’s on the fringe of a game.”
It’s a pretty big claim to say that Arsenal are carrying Aubameyang when, actually, it’s been the other way around for the past few years.
Yes, he has hit a rocky patch, but the North Londoners scored four goals in FA Cup semi-final and final wins over Manchester City and Chelsea last season – and Aubameyang bagged all four.
The reason why Arsenal fans were so desperate to see the Gabon international – who has 56 goals in 93 Premier League games – hang around is because without him, they’re a very average side.
And although he’s struggling right now, class is permanent and there’s no doubt he’ll be carrying Mikel Arteta’s side again pretty soon.
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