Former Arsenal star Alan Smith has offered his explanation for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's recent form.
Aubameyang fired 30 goals in all competitions for the Gunners last season, including 22 in the Premier League.
He was rewarded with a new contract over the summer but has struggled to match his exploits in front of goal so far this term.
The Gabon international has managed only two league goals so far as Mikel Arteta's men lie 14th in the table after their opening 10 games.
Aubameyang has been largely deployed on the left of a front three, though has been moved to a central attacking role in the past two Premier League fixtures - but without success.
Some have blamed his position for the lack goals, while some have suggested the new contract may have had a negative effect.
Smith admits the 31-year-old has been "lacklustre" but has his own theory.
"He's only human," Smith told Sky Sports. "He comes across as a really happy guy, whose confidence would be difficult to knock.
"He has great confidence in his ability. But you can see he has been affected by his overall game. He's been lacklustre.
"In an effort to try and change things, they've put him through the middle. I don't think he's necessarily always suited to playing through the middle.
"When the team is functioning properly, and he's coming in from the left, he can find space easier from that position.
"But I can see why they'd try through the middle, because they're trying everything at the moment.
"Some people point to him signing his new bumper contract and his form falling off the edge of a cliff, but I'd be reluctant to say that has been an influence.
"He does strike me as someone who lives for goals, but I'd be surprised if he's eased off because he's signed his new contract.
"His form is a symptom of Arsenal's lack of form going forward.
"Mikel Arteta had to change the way they played, he had to make them more robust, harder to play against, more solid at the back.
"Wherever Arsenal are on the pitch, they always make sure that should they lose the ball, they are not exposed. They've always got that in mind.
"Arteta works quite hard on that in training. And yes, it's taken away some of that joie de vivre, if you like, that Arsenal have always been associated with going forward."
