Merson: Arsenal’s problem is Aubameyang, club needs a new captain

Not so long ago, Gabonese goalscorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was considered the most valuable commodity and the highest quality in the football world. However, the highest-paid player and Arsenal captain has struggled in recent seasons, failing to score goals regularly and certainly not acting as a true leader on the pitch. Gunners legend and Sky Sports commentator Paul Merson has also been critical of the London Arsenal mainstay.

When Arsenal bought Aubameyang from Dortmund in January 2018, it was something of a safe bet. No one could have been surprised at the time, the speedy Gabonese striker was the German Bundesliga’s top scorer for the 2016/17 season and was always one of the club’s and league’s top cannoneers during his almost five-year engagement in the west of Germany.

He continued his goalscoring potential at Arsenal, scoring ten goals in the second half of the 2017/18 Premier League season. A year later, he has even shared the crown of the league’s top goalscorer with other players with twenty-two goals. He scored the same number of goals in the 2019/20 season when he finished one goal behind the first Vardy.

Since signing a new multi-year contract in September 2020, however, it’s as if his gunpowder has fundamentally dampened. Aubameyang’s performances are far beyond the expectations of Gunners fans and his woes have yet to end.

And as if that wasn’t enough, disciplinary issues have resurfaced once again, reportedly causing the striker’s absence for Saturday’s league game against Southampton. Sky Sport commentator and long-time Arsenal captain Paul Merson is calling for a change.

“Itwas not the first time he has been disciplined. If I was the coach, he would not be the captain. Absolutely no chance. It’s an incredible honour to be Arsenal captain and something has to change now. Someone else has to be captain,” says Gabon’s Paul Merson.

“Itwon’t be a problem for Aubameyang because he has an incredible contract. But for Arsenal it is a big problem. If he was 27 years old, clubs would be queuing up for him, but he is already 32, and on such a salary,” the former England striker added.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is one of the highest paid players in the Premier League, with all bonuses included his weekly salary is around £350,000. His contract at Arsenal is valid for two more years, until the end of the 2022/23 season.

Update: Aubameyang has officially had his captain’s armband removed and will not be in the squad for tomorrow’s league game against West Ham.

Source: Sky Sports, Arsenal