Mikel Arteta has dismissed claims Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is “undroppable” but is determined to help Arsenal's club captain and star striker through this barren spell.
Aubameyang hasn’t scored from open play in the Premier League since the opening day of the season against Fulham and, since that match, has only found the target against Rapid Wien in the Europa League and converted a penalty at Old Trafford against Manchester United.
Aubameyang’s drastic downturn in form has led to questions whether his near-protected status as Arsenal club captain means he will never be taken out of the first XI, irrespective of how he’s playing.
But while Arsenal head coach Arteta insisted no one is guaranteed a place in his team, he was also keen to spell out that Aubameyang’s previous performances ensure a certain amount of long-term currency when it comes to picking a side.
“No one is undroppable,” Arteta said, ahead of Thursday night’s Europa League tie against Dundalk.
“At the end of the day, we have to find the right players to win football matches. But we cannot forget what Auba has done for this club and what he has done in recent months, not years ago.
“As well, I see how he's training and how he's behaving, how much he wants to turn this situation around.
“When I see that type of hunger, it's about supporting the player as well as the status he has in the team because of the performances he has provided for this football club.”
Aubameyang signed a new three-year contract in September, surpassing Mesut Ozil as the club’s highest-earning player but in the 12 games since he’s averaged a goal every 338 minutes. Whereas in the previous 12 matches before his new deal that figure was 111.4.
In his defence, collectively Arsenal are struggling to create chances with the Gunners ranking joint 17 for key passes per game (6.5) in the Premier League, 16th for total shots (9.6) and shots on target (3.1); only West Brom, Burnley and Sheffield United have scored fewer than their 10.
Aubameyang has also been deployed predominantly on the left-hand side of attack, which has limited his influence directly on the penalty box, with Arteta preferring Alexandre Lacazette in a central role.
The Gabon international won’t be involved against Dundalk on Thursday, which brings Sunday’s match against Burnley into focus with the 31-year-old having scored seven goals in five games against the Clarets.
“Listen, today and this week, the response that I've seen from the players and the reaction I saw from the players after the match, I cannot be any prouder,” Arteta said, with reference to the 2-0 north London derby defeat to Tottenham.
“Because I know how difficult it is for everybody at the moment. After losing a derby you can be completely down and I saw a completely different team, a team that wants to fight, that has a big belief in what they are trying to do and they want to push themselves and push each other harder and harder.”
