Should Arsenal be worried about Aubameyang’s form?

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had a fairly poor season last term by his own high standards, scoring only 10 Premier League goals.

The Gabon international has been hitting 20+ league goals for five straight season until last term. Besides his goal returns Aubameyang’s work rate has dropped.

Some fans have attributed his decline to the big contract he signed at the start of last season. Coincidentally Aubameyang’s form declined immediately after he penned down a three year £350,000-a-week contract.

This is similar to the Mesut Ozil situation, the former Arsenal star signed a new contract that saw his weekly wages go up to £350,000 and his game begun to drop.

Aubameyang also wears the captains armband and some have argued that he is a fantastic player but not captain material.

Despite Arsenal’s problems of chance creation in the past few seasons Aubameyang was always banging in the goals with the limited service he was receiving.

That issue maybe resolved with the introduction of Smith-Rowe and one or two new midfielders. Against Rangers in a friendly match Aubameyang missed several big chances to get on the scoresheet as he fired over the bar from close range, despite the Gunners creating plenty of chances.

At 32 the the former Dortmund striker might be past his best and Arteta may face the consequences of fully relying on him for the new campaign.

So who can Arsenal rely on for goals besides Auba? Alex Lacazette has been scoring 10+ league goals ever since he was signed.

Lacazette outscored Auba last season despite playing fewer minutes but the Frenchman’s future still remains uncertain.

Arsenal’s record signing Nicolas Pepe managed to score 10 Premier League goals in just 16 starts. The Ivorian winger seems to be getting to his best and could be the reliable alternative for the new season.