Aubameyang left the club by mutual consent during the recently concluded January transfer window and joined Spanish giants Barcelona on a free transfer.
The Gabon striker had been frozen out of the squad by Mikel Arteta since their 2-1 defeat to Everton last year due to ‘disciplinary issues’. He was also stripped of the captain’s armband.
The 32-year-old’s departure has left Arsenal desperately short of options in attack. The club are therefore likely to be heavily reliant on the goal-scoring abilities of Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah during the second half of the season.
Alan Smith believes Arteta is ’not at all convinced’ by Nketiah and has suggested the striker needs to do more if he is to lead the line for the Gunners.
Smith added:
Eddie Nketiah has scored five goals in five Carabao Cup games this season for Arsenal. The 22-year-old is, however, yet to score a goal in the Premier League. The youngster has played just 51-minutes during his four league appearances for the Gunners this season.
Arsenal’s lack of attacking options could hurt their chances of finishing in the top-four this season
Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah have managed to score just three Premier League goals between them this season. The duo’s respective contracts with the club are also set to expire at the end of the season. To make matters worse, they have thus far rejected the chance to extend their deals with the club.
Arsenal have failed to score a goal this year and have lost three and drawn one of their last four games in all competitions. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s move to Barcelona is therefore likely to impact the club negatively due to their lack of quality and strength in depth in attack.
Mikel Arteta’a side currently sit in sixth-place in the Premier League table, two points behind Manchester United with a game in hand over Ralf Rangnick’s side. The north London club are therefore part of a dog-fight for a place in the league’s top-four come the end of the season.
0 votes
