Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been off his game for a while now. He has had to endure a poor run of form for the majority of the 2020/2021 season.
Aubameyang is a renowned goal poacher capable of producing 20+ goals every season, but last season was horrible as per his standards.
The Gunners captain experienced a huge drop in form which saw him manage only 11 goals in 30 appearances in all competitions for the Gunners.
The 32-year-old had attributed his on-field struggles to off-field ones, stating that a lot of personal issues had divided his focus and attention.
But with the pre-season underway and the new season fast approaching, Aubameyang is still under-performing.
This situation has prompted the question, should Arsenal be worried with Aubameyang’s lack of goals?
So far, Arsenal have played Hibernian, Rangers, Millwall and Watford in their pre-season friendly matches but Aubameyang has failed to find the back of the net in all four matches.
He seems to have picked up from where he left off last season, failing to convert the big chances created for him by his teammates.
It is all the more concerning for Aubameyang as it is not a question of a lack of service. He is being provided with good passes but he is constantly being let down by his finishing.
Since after signing a contract extension with the club towards the beginning of last season – a gesture which came with a lot of expectations from the club and fans – things haven’t been quite the same with the player.
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The Gabonese has never had it worse. Even while he was in the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund, Aubameyang was a reflex goalscorer, winning the Golden Boot ahead of Robert Lewandowski in the 2016/2017 season before his big move to North London.
Last season was the only season he has scored as few as 10 league goals in a complete top-flight campaign. In his first season at Arsenal, he scored 10 goals that is despite joining the club in January and playing only 13 league games.
In his first complete season with the Gunners, he scored 22 league goals, sharing the Premier League Golden Boot with Liverpool pair Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah.
The following season, he scored another 22 league goals and guided the Gunners to FA Cup glory, becoming the first African to win the FA Cup as a captain.
Since then, things have gone south for Aubameyang and Arsenal should be worried if he goes into the new season like this.
Arsenal have to do all it takes to bring him back to his goal scoring form be it by therapy or a sit-down conversation with the player to iron out his unusual situation.
The report that there would be no contract extension for teammate Alexandre Lacazette looks unrealistic given that he’s the only other senior striker in the team.
In the past weeks, the Gunners have been heavily linked with Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham to serve as competition for Aubameyang. It is hoped that a new forward will trigger their star striker to up his game.
But whether this move will prove abortive or successful in reviving Aubameyang’s form, only time will tell, but the club will not be patient for a very long time.
What do you think about Aubameyang’s form? Do you think things will change in the new season? Let us know in the comments section.
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