Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta saw his star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang flop again against Watford, but he has been slow to make changes from 12 yards.
What did Arteta say about Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang?
The Gunners boss insists that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will remain in the free kick for Arsenal, despite missing his last two efforts. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang fluffed up his lines from 12 yards in a narrow 1-0 win over Watford, previously doing the same in a 3-1 win against Aston Villa on October 22.
Questions have been asked about whether the Gabonese forward should be forced to step aside, allowing Lacazette to take over, but the Gunners Boss says he has no intention of thinking about his plans.
Asked if the Gunners’ captain will remain an Arsenal-born athlete, Mikel Arteta told reporters that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will stay on free kicks if he is happy to do so. According to Mikel Arteta it is part of their career and work to skip the fines and they will try to help him.
Aubameyang and Lacazette comparing
Pierre-Emerick has taken 15 penalties for the Gunners since joining Arsenal in January 2018. Of these, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has successfully converted 10 and conceded five, with his last standing goal coming in the Premier League clash against Leeds on 14 February.
Alexandre Lacazette, meanwhile, has never missed 12 yards when he was assigned a penalty for the North London heavyweights. He made just eight point shots for Arsenal, but each hit the back of the net. The French international has only been allowed to step up on one occasion this season, with this single attempt to win the Carabao Cup over AFC Wimbledon.
However, he scored four penalties last season and would have been the obvious choice to take over Pierre-Emerick if a tactical change is made. Alexandre, however, fulfills its current contract towards a free agency and is not guaranteed a regular berth at Mikel Arteta.