‘Risky Auba tactics’
ARSENAL boss Mikel Arteta is on the right track, but he has played a high-stakes game with striker Pierre-emerick Aubameyang, reckons Gunners legend Charlie Nicholas.
The Gabon star has scored 84 goals for the team and penned a lucrative new three-year deal in September.
But after a ‘breach of pre-match protocol’ before last Sunday’s north London derby, Aubameyang was relegated to the bench.
The 31-year-old started Arsenal’s Europa League clash with Olympiakos four days later, but squandered a host of chances in the
1-0 defeat. And Nicholas (below) reckons Arteta needs to carefully manage his star man.
“Arsenal fans would’ve slaughtered him if they’d lost against Spurs,” said Nicholas. “You rarely take a risk on it and in the old days you’d just give him a fine.
“It could backfire, depending on how the skipper takes it – but I think Arteta’s made his point, he got a big win.”
Nicholas says the Gunners’ young squad has plenty of potential. But he has urged Arteta to shift more dead wood in the summer.
“I like the energy the youngsters are bringing into the team,” added the former striker, who made 151 appearances for Arsenal.
“Emile Smith Rowe, Bukayo Saka. I’ve still got high hopes for Gabriel Martinelli and Folarin Balogun.
“The youngsters look a proper batch, but he’s got five or six players to sell before you balance the side around them.”
Charlie Nicholas was speaking to Paddy Power during their Cheltenham Festival watchalong. Watch the full episode on Youtube