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Mikel Arteta warns Arsenal striker over his poor performances

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
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The Arsenal manager says he cannot guarantee a lineup spot for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang if he doesn’t improve.

After a disastrous start to the season, Arsenal have gradually improved their form in recent weeks. Except for a defeat against Liverpool at Anfield, the Gunners have been unbeaten in their last 12 games.

This is in large part due to their talent-studded attacking unit, which has lived up to expectations this season. However, this is not true for everyone upfront.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has not been able to keep up with his top form of the last season. The Gabonese striker missed a sitter in his side’s 2-0 win over Newcastle on Saturday.

In an interview ahead of his side’s match against Manchester United on Thursday, Mikel Arteta warned Aubameyang over his performances.

 “To put the ball in the net or not can be a difference of millimetres or by a second and Auba hasn’t lost that capacity,” the Arsenal boss said (via The Times). “What he cannot lose is the rest of his game.

“He cannot think, ‘I’m going to do a little bit less of that now to score more goals.’ Our front players have to put people on the ball under pressure every single time.”

Arsenal will reportedly scan the market for a new striker this winter. Aubameyang, who is currently Arteta’s go-to striker, will join Gabon for the Africa Cup of Nations in January. 

On the other hand, Alexander Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah will most likely leave Arsenal in the summer. The contracts of both players will expire, and the club have failed to renew their deals.

“We have to be prepared because things can happen, injuries can arise in this period,” Arteta added. “We have to plan what is going to happen now and in the summer.”

After their game against Man United, Arsenal will face Everton in their next league game on Monday.

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