Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has told the club’s official website that he was pleased when Pierre Emerick Aubameyang got upset in training in the build-up to their game against Benfica.
Despite a recent hat-trick against Leeds, the Arsenal forward has come under fire this season.
There has been accusations that he is on the decline and he hasn’t scored as freely as previously in a Gunners shirt.
However, Aubameyang proved his worth to Arsenal once again in the Europa League last night.
The rapid striker hit Arsenal’s first and last goals, as they came from behind to win 3-2 against Benfica and progress to the next round.
And Arteta says that Aubameyang’s attitude has been perfect in training, as he looks to respond to the criticism coming his way.
“Sometimes when you go through difficult moments, you can have those difficult moments and get into a sad mood and I think that’s the worst thing you can do because nobody has to feel sorry for themselves when you’re having those moments,” he said.
“What you have to do is get upset, get angry, work harder and approach the situation and face it.
“Face the challenge in a way that creates more motivation and more hunger to do it and I think in recent weeks I’ve seen that reaction.
“For example, in a training session before we played here he missed a penalty and he was really upset. Instead of getting sad, he got upset and I said to the coaching staff that I like that and that he would be fine tomorrow. When you have that mentality, I think that’s the right way to approach it.”
Thankfully of Arsenal, Aubameyang kept his wasteful shooting to the training ground – as he was lethal last night.
Aubameyang now has five goals in three games, which is easily his best run of the season so far.The Gunners are next in action against Leicester City on Sunday, when they will be looking for Aubameyang to continue his scoring hot-streak by hitting the back of the net again.
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