Arsenal: Erm, is Stan Collymore alright?

Stan Collymore has stated that Arsenal should be worried about centre-forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and his future at the club. Is he alright?

A lot of football pundits say a lot of stupid things. But every now and then, there is one statement that stands clear of the mire of folly and ill-advise. And this weekend, Stan Collymore has outdone even the silliest of arguments.

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Writing in the Daily Mirror — yes, that tells you everything you need to know — Collymore claimed that Arsenal should be worried about the future of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Here is an extract from his piece. I warn you, there is one line that will infuriate you like no other:

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"“It’s imperative the club [Arsenal] remains in the top four. This way they can persuade their main striker [Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang] that he can at least challenge for the game’s top prizes. So, failure could mean that Aubameyang decides to move on. The former Borussia Dortmund star doesn’t have the same rapport with the crowd at the Emirates as some Arsenal legends of the past. If I were Gunners coach Unai Emery, I would be wondering about an over-reliance on the forward. He is also exactly the kind of pacy striker that Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp favours.”"

Yes, according to Collymore, Aubameyang ‘doesn’t have the same rapport with the crowd at the Emirates as some Arsenal legends of the past.’ Other than he is obviously not paying much attention to the beat of the Gunners fan base, I am not sure what else would drive him to make such a statement.

Now, his overall argument is not completely ridiculous. Unai Emery’s team is over-reliant on Aubameyang. That is an issue that needs to be addressed. And if they do not qualify for the Champions League next season, there is a high chance that the centre-forward will leave — there is actually a very good chance he leaves irrespective of this given that he will have just one year remaining on his contract and he will be 31. But the way he makes it is extremely clunky.

He makes a wild misjudgement regarding the Arsenal fans’ relationship with Aubameyang. He oddly links finishing in the top four with challenging for a title, despite the vast chasm between Liverpool and Manchester City and the rest. And then he links Aubameyang with a move to Liverpool because of his previous link with Jurgen Klopp, not even hesitating to consider that Arsenal would never sell to a direct rival and that Liverpool have a clear transfer focus on young players.

You may think that is all a little pointless. Why listen to a talking head like Collymore on a subject that he fairly obviously does not understand. But sadly, there are lots of readers who do listen to Collymore — and plenty of other pundits — and accept what he says as gospel.

Aubameyang is not in trouble at Arsenal. There is no real reason to worry. He is the vice-captain, an extremely popular figure among the dressing room and the fan base, and a leading player in the team. So quite what Collymore is on about, I do not know.