If there was one image that defined Arsenal’s dismal Europa League defeat to Rennes on Thursday night, it was the sight of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang slumped on the bench, expression giving away his true feelings. Those feelings weren’t especially warm given the circumstances.
Indeed, Unai Emery’s decision to take off Aubameyang when Arsenal were 2-1 down and in need of a goal was a peculiar one. This left the Gunners without a striker on the pitch, without an out ball, and ultimately without a hope. Aubameyang was as puzzled by his manager’s call as the rest of us.
Despite this, there can be no denying that Aubameyang’s form has dropped off in recent weeks. Against Rennes, the former Borussia Dortmund forward as poor, but this wasn’t an isolated case. In fact, Aubameyang’s recent performances may well be cause for concern for Emery and the Gunners.
He has scored just four times in 2019. With the exception of the 2-1 win over Cardiff City in January, Aubameyang has struggled to make an impact for Arsenal. Once the pace-setter at the top of the Premier League scoring charts, Aubameyang now seems to have lost his groove having been overtaken by Harry Kane and Mohamed Salah.
This weekend, Arsenal face a potentially season-defining fixture. Manchester United travel to North London on Sunday with a place in the top four on the line for both sides. Whoever comes out on top will have the momentum to go on and clinch qualification for next season’s Champions League.
It’s for this reason that Aubameyang’s dip in form is concerning, at least in the immediate term. Arsenal were this week shown what happens when opposition sides fail to take their chances against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side, with Manchester United riding their luck to knock out Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
The Gunners need someone to be ruthless in front of goal in the way Kylian Mbappe and co. weren’t at the Parc des Princes otherwise they will suffer the same problems PSG did. Emery will have Alexandre Lacazette to deploy as a number nine, but Arsenal have found their best performances this season when both he and Aubameyang have dovetailed with each other. Emery might not be able to count on the optimum form of the latter, though. Not right now, anyway.
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