Hasselbaink tells Arsenal how to solve Aubameyang’s goal crisis

The Arsenal captain has struggled to supply the goals, but Hasselbaink suggests a single change could fix it.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink believes Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang would serve Arsenal best in central attack rather on the flanks.

The skipper’s Premier League tally for this season doesn’t make a great read, with only two goals in eight games. It’s prompted questions over his role in Mikel Arteta’s line-up, and even his professionalism.

A match-winning penalty against Manchester United in Arsenal’s penultimate league fixture before the international break sparked hope of a turnaround in form.

But a disappointing display followed in the Gunners’ 3-0 defeat to Aston Villa at the Emirates. The Villains covered him out well on the left-wing and restricted his movements. In fact, he rarely saw any significant action at all.

“I like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang a lot. I do think he should be playing through the middle, though,” former Chelsea and Leeds striker Hasselbaink told Ladbrokes.

“He just knows where the ball is going to fall and will find himself in the right place at the right time often when he’s playing through the middle.

“He’s such a calm finisher; he doesn’t panic. I know he’s going through a difficult spell now but it’s just one of those things. It’s not a nice feeling when you’re not scoring as a striker, because that’s your job.”

“I think the longest I went was nine matches without a goal. It plays with your head but you must stay strong and keep believing. But things can change very quickly; he might get one goal which changes everything. You must keep believing.”

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on being Arsenal captain: "I think before maybe, I don't know, it was not done on purpose but maybe sometimes I was a little bit less concerned on certain games. But now I am just focusing on every game and trying to give my best." [@Arsenal] pic.twitter.com/dxLcqOcGnW

— AFTV (@AFTVMedia) November 18, 2020

Hasselbaink added: “Aubameyang is doing everything really, really well. It’s just the final part; getting that goal.

“It was the same for [Leeds striker] Patrick Bamford last season; sometimes his timing wasn’t quite right but look what’s happened to him now. He’s feeling on top of the world and it’s like nothing can go wrong for him – but he’s not working any harder now than he was last season – and it’s the same with Aubameyang.

“He knows it’ll be sooner, rather than later, that he starts scoring again.

It happens when you see a striker in form sign a contract, then they go on a bad run of form. I don’t know why; it must be a psychological thing – he just needs to recapture that momentum.”

Arsenal will face Hasselbaink’s old club Leeds at Elland Road on Sunday in the Premier League.