Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has admitted that it has been difficult for him to lead Arsenal as the club’s captain due to his inability to score goals like he used to.
Since the commencement of this season, the 31-year-old Gabon international has been a shadow of himself who has been struggling to find his form in terms of scoring goals. The center-forward who was given a three-year contract extension last summer due to the impact he has made at the club has managed to score three goals and provided an assist in 15 Premier League appearances this season.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has never had it that bad since he joined Arsenal from Borussia Dortmund on January 31, 2018, for a transfer fee worth €63.75 million.
In his first season at Arsenal (2018-2019), Aubameyang scored 22 goals and provided 5 assists in 36 appearances in all competitions. While in his second season (2019-2020), the Gabonese striker scored 22 goals and provided 3 assists in 36 games.
Contrary to his outstanding performance in his last two seasons at Arsenal, so far this season, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has managed to score just 6 goals in all competitions and has provided 1 assist, which means that he might not be able to get 20 plus goals this season if his current form does not improve.
The striker said it is hard to maintain “positive vibes” as a player and a captain of a club as big as Arsenal if such a footballer is not at his best.
“It’s really hard to manage both but you have to be as positive as you can because the team needs you,” Aubameyang said.
“I always try to give my best, not only on the pitch but also in the dressing room for the guys.
“Sometimes it’s hard and maybe you are not in the right mood but you have to find a way to change it and give positive vibes for the guys.”
Though he scored a goal in Arsenal’s 2-0 FA Cup third-round win over Newcastle United on January 9, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has admitted that his inability to score goals this season could be a hangover of the effort he and his teammates put into the club’s FA Cup triumph and Europa League qualification last season.
“From the beginning of this season I was struggling a lot but I think this is part of football”, Aubameyang said.
“We gave a lot at the end of the season to win the FA Cup and to qualify for the Europa League because it was really important for the club.
“Sometimes you have ups and downs and you have to manage as best you can. I tried my best and until now it was not the best performance from me.”
Aubameyang admits his recent performances have not been the best. pic.twitter.com/2CBKE1pIDz
— AFCMikel (@AFCPW) January 13, 2021
Even though Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has not been at his best at Arsenal so far this season, the club’s coach Mikel Arteta has found a way to use younger players to push the club from the 15th spot to the 11th spot with 23 points in 17 games.
Arsenal has been enjoying improved form since they defeated Chelsea 3-1 in the league on December 26 without Aubameyang. Since then, the club has gone on to win three games in a row.
Arsenal’s next league match is at the Emirates Stadium against Crystal Palace on Thursday, January 14. The kick-off time is 21:00.
