Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been told that club talisman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang needs to set an example for his teammates if chosen to start against Southampton.
Aubameyang was left on the bench against Everton until the dying moments of the match with out-of-favour Eddie Nketiah chosen to enter the play before the club captain.
The 32-year-old has struggled for form so far this season with supporters growing more and more frustrated with his lacklustre displays, something that has not been lost on Arteta.
Alexandre Lacazette was chosen to start up-front on his own on Monday night with Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka on either wing, but Paul Merson believes Aubameyang will return to the starting XI on Saturday.
However, he has warned that the striker must up his efforts in order to lift the entire squad.
"I think Aubameyang will start again this weekend, but he needs to work hard. His form has taken a dip," Merson told SportsKeeda.
"Arsenal have a lot of youngsters at the moment and as captain, he needs to set an example.
"When he works hard, Arsenal are very good, and that shows how the youngsters look up to him. He’s the catalyst for the team and the young kids in the squad respect him."
Merson is not the only one to pore over Aubameyang's recent displays.
In the aftermath of the defeat to Everton, club legend David Seaman suggested that Arteta needed to work on building the striker's confidence in training.
The dying seconds at Goodison Park saw a golden chance fall Aubameyang's way but his shot trickled harmlessly wide, something the former shot-stopper puts down to his faith in himself.
"He needs to get out on that training field and really practice his finishing," he told Sky Sports.
"And get confidence from training because he’s really lacking that when it comes to that final decision, that final finish.
"He missed one I think against Newcastle, quite an easy one, but we recovered from that. Then, last night, it wasn’t an easy chance but it's a good chance.
