Why Arsenal must drop Aubameyang and start Martinelli

It’s a very real debate. One that has been rumbling on for a number of weeks but now has to be taken into serious consideration: should Arsenal remove Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from the starting lineup?

Trying to decipher just why Aubameyang has been so frighteningly off the pace in recent weeks can only be put down to a systematic issue for so long. When he isn’t getting the chances then what is an on-the-shoulder striker expected to do?

Well, he is getting the opportunities to score, and he’s missing them.

Putting in one of his worst performances of the season at Old Trafford – key words being ‘one of’ – there was little room for mitigation as balls pinged off him with regularity, his involvement in the build-up was clunky and his finishing was woefully lacking in conviction.

Arsenal must drop misfiring Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang against Everton in the Premier League and start Gabriel Martinelli at centre-forward

Aubameyang does not look himself, and he hasn’t for a while. Delving deep into the analysis to figure out just why, the bottom line is that he isn’t producing. Having always been a low touch player but one with incredible success in front of goal, when he starts becoming a medium touch striker since a low amount of touches won’t produce a goal, something has got to give.

Taking on Everton in the Premier League on Monday signals time for change. Not necessarily a permanent change, but a change nevertheless.

Arsenal have to start making use out of their centre-forward. Even if he isn’t contributing with goals, having someone occupy dangerous central zones and offer no threat in them is hindrance on a team that is finding its feet in the creative department.

While there are still major issues in how Arsenal react in positive game states, they’re at least creating chances: they recorded 18 shots at Old Trafford and had eight on target. Five of those were for Aubameyang, of which four tested David de Gea – ‘tested’ might be a touch kind.

There are ways to take him out for the Everton game without completely disrupting squad harmony and causing a gigantic controversy. Arteta can label it as rotation and the need for freshness, masking over his non-involvement as being due to the demanding fixture list. It can be done without a meltdown.

In order to see what can happen with a functioning centre-forward, Gabriel Martinelli should be brought into the team. There are plenty of reasons why.

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