Aubameyang’s Arsenal decline since signing £350k-a-week deal with NO goals and far fewer shots
PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG continues to disappoint since signing his new £350,000-a-week contract at Arsenal.
The 31-year-old is now without a goal in five Premier League games after he drew a blank in the 1-0 defeat against Leicester on Sunday.
His last strike in the top-flight came in the season-opening win against Fulham at Craven Cottage – before he put pen to paper on his lucrative deal.
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Aubameyang did find the back of the net in last week’s Europa League win against Rapid Vienna, but his performances in the Premier League have been below-par.
The Gunners skipper may have created more chances per 90 minutes after his contract extension, but his shot output may worry fans.
Prior to his new deal, the ex-Borussia Dortmund striker averaged 2.8 shots per game, but it is now down to just one.
And his shots on target have dropped from 1.3 to 0.6, with his touches in the opposition box now at 2.4 every match from 4.8.
His dribble completion is also down from 0.7 every 90 minutes to 0.4, though he is averaging 0.1 more tackles since committing his future to Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta recently urged the Gabon international to handle the pressure of being Arsenal’s main man as he stated he must get himself into better scoring positions.
Fans have urged the Spaniard to stop deploying Aubameyang on the wing as it is hindering his performances, however it is the position that he has played in since he joined in January 2018.
Former Tottenham forward Darren Bent believes the ex-Lille loanee has ‘not looked the same player’ since his new deal.
He said on talkSPORT: “There has been a drop-off.
“You look at his form in the semi-final and the final of the FA Cup last season, the Community Shield and his performance against Fulham – he was arguably one of the best strikers in the Premier League, probably the best.
“But since he signed that new contract, it might be a coincidence, but he’s looked a shadow of himself.
“He’s missed big opportunities in games, he’s not working with the same intensity, he doesn’t look like he’s enjoying it as much.
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“Listen, confidence is massive in a striker.
“It is with any player, but particularly with a centre-forward, when you’re used to scoring as many goals as he is and then you suddenly stop scoring, it can be a little bit of a concern.
“But I think it’s even the work rate as well.
“You remember, he was putting shifts up and down, he was all over the place, but he’s been nowhere near that level recently.”