Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta has said that captain, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is handling pressure well.
The Gabonese, who has scored 23 goals in all competitions this season for the Gunners, is the second-highest goalscorer in the Premier League behind Jamie Vardy.
Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s Emirates FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City, Arteta said the striker has proven time and again that he can be relied on when the team needs him most.
There is still speculation surrounding Aubameyang, as many are wondering whether will be with the club next season. The 31-year-old has been linked with a move to a host of European clubs.
“I think he handles the pressure really well. It is part of his character that he is so relaxed and confident about himself.
“I think the fact he is able to sustain that level of pressure and still deliver every single year, scoring the amount of goals that he does, tells you everything about how he responds and how he enjoys challenges. I am sure he will be ready on Saturday.”
Arteta further, who that he likes seeing Aubameyang playing from the left flank. He added that all he wants to do is to have a better balance in the team, to have a goal threat.
“But he has played different positions a few times, and he will keep moving from time to time into different areas to cause difficulties to the opponent.”
Mikel Arteta speaks on midfield battle against Manchester City
Arsenal will battle Manchester City in the semi-final of the FA Cup, with the hope of beating City at least once this season. While noting that controlling the middle of the pack is a sizeable task, but noted that there has seen plenty of improvements from his squad to suggest they are up to the task at Wembley.
He could continue to play Granit Xhaka and Dani Ceballos, as both have developed a key partnership in recent weeks and impressed with their game management and energy.
“Everything we do is in relation to the opponent, the ball and where the spaces are,” Arteta told Arsenal Digital. Every game is different, every day the spaces are somewhere else and we need to utilise it in different ways with our quality to find the right moment with the right pass against the right opponent.
“That is something we are doing better and better. Game management is a big part. How we had to react on Wednesday night, after going 1-0 down, what we had to try to do straight away – they [all] know the reaction we expect and what the team need in the next five to 10 minutes. Hopefully, they are understanding that a bit better.
With Europa League place looking like unreachable for Arsenal, this is the only avenue to secure a route to the European competition for Arsenal
