The Gabonese marksman has been a shadow of his usual self ever since putting pen to paper on a contract extension earlier in the season.
Mikel Arteta should allow the Arsenal ‘kids’ to keep their place in the team at the expense of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, according to Darren Bent.
Aubameyang committed to a new three-year contract reportedly worth about £55 million in September.
He has since lost his goalscoring touch, having found the net only twice from open play in the Premier League so far this season.
One of the goals came in the 1-1 draw against Southampton while the other dates all the way back to the very beginning of the league campaign during the 3-0 win over Fulham.
Such inconsistency on the captain’s part has raised questions about whether he should remain Arteta’s first-choice for the left-wing position, especially considering Arsenal recorded a 3-1 win against Chelsea in their previous fixture with him dropped to the bench.
“I think that team did well against a good Chelsea team and there seems to be a bit of a feel good factor around bringing some of the kids on,” Bent said, speaking on the talkSPORT Breakfast Show.
“If Aubameyang is fit for this next game and you take these young players straight back out again, confidence wise that might kill them a little bit.
“So I would stick with the youngsters and the more experienced guys might have to bide their time.”
Emile Smith-Rowe played in a number ten role, Gabriel Martinelli on the left, and Bukayo Saka started on the right in the emphatic win over Chelsea, and Bent believes the Gunners boss should stick with that setup.
“For me, Saka is absolutely brilliant,” he added. “I like Martinelli, he’s a big player and we’ve missed him this season, his energy, his pace, he can finish and score goals – he’s been a big miss
“And Smith-Rowe is a very clever footballer, he’s got that bit of creativity we’ve been crying out for.”
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