Arsenal: Pundits discuss Aubameyang's transfer options
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta made a “statement” by playing want-away striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the left against Chelsea, claims transfer expert Ian McGarry. Alexandre Lacazette started as the central forward as Arsenal suffered late heartache to go down 2-1 at the Emirates on Sunday.
Aubameyang played wide and was clearly instructed to work hard defensively.
The Gabon star has been linked with a move to either Real Madrid or Barcelona, with his Arsenal contract expiring in the summer of 2021.
McGarry says Aubameyang is “agitating” for a move and his representatives have made Arsenal aware he wants to leave.
“Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s representatives have made it very clear to Arsenal that their client wants to leave Arsenal in January,” McGarry said on the Transfer Window Podcast.
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“Arsenal have had three different managers in the last six weeks,” McGarry continued.
“Aubameyang is using that as leverage to say ‘this is an unstable club, we are unlikely to make the Champions League and I need to be doing that at my age, I want to win the Champions League, I want to go to a club where I’ve got that opportunity’.
“He’s done very well for Arsenal, his age is a factor.
“I’ll tell you what else is a factor though, he’s overshadowed Alexandre Lacazette, who has also been a prolific goalscorer for Arsenal.
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Arsenal transfer news: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored but the Gunners lost 2-1 to Chelsea (Image: GETTY)
“As we saw in the game against Chelsea on Sunday, Arteta made the quite brave, but a move that worked, by switching Aubameyang to left side and playing Lacazette as a central striker.
“Don’t get me wrong it was Aubameyang in the box who scored Arsenal’s goal but clearly he was coming inside off of the left.
“There’s no way, absolutely no way, Aubameyang will put up with playing on the left so that they could accommodate Lacazette.
“I think that was a statement about Aubameyang’s agitation for this move as I said before, i.e. that he was put on the left and told to be disciplined about it.”