Smith: Aubameyang not to blame for dip in form at Arsenal

James Holland
Aubameyang Arsenal

Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith believes club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang isn’t totally at fault for his recent drop in form.

The striker has scored just twice in eight games in the Premier League this season.

That’s a seemingly low return for arguably one of the best forwards in England, who began misfiring after signing a huge new contract.


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Smith thinks that other issues, such as a lack of creativity at Arsenal, are to blame.

Speaking to the Evening Standard, he said: “The fact that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hasn’t scored from open play in the league since the opening day does tend to point in a worrying direction.

“If one of the world’s best finishers can’t find the net in seven games, what does that say about the team as a whole? Well, it says for a start that the number of chances created has dropped. The Gunners don’t carve out the opportunities of old.

“In fairness, that’s bound to happen when a coach is concentrating on organisation and solidity, when he’s determined to eradicate flimsy defending in favour of a disciplined approach that gives little away.

“Some say he is wasted on the left, but I can’t agree with that when he has shone so brightly from that position in the past.

“Mind you, his success from that flank partly depends on the centre-forward’s input and Alexandre Lacazette has fallen into a slump that’s not helping. It might be time to move the captain inside.

“As for the accusation Aubameyang has lost his hunger after signing that humongous contract, I’m not having that. The 31-year-old doesn’t seem the type to coast along. He likes scoring too much to be going through the motions.

“A lack of creativity doesn’t help his cause, a shortfall that leads to Arsenal struggling against sides adopting a low block.”

Aubameyang will be hoping for a return to form this weekend as Arsenal travel to Leeds United this Sunday.