MIKEL ARTETA has called on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to handle the pressure of being Arsenal’s main man.
The Gabonese striker ended a four-match goal drought by scoring the winner in the Gunners’ Europa League clash with Rapid Vienna on Thursday.
Mikel Arteta wants Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to be his main manCredit: AFP or licensors
Arsenal boss Arteta wants Aubameyang, 31, to relish the pressure when he isn’t scoring but admits his team need to do more to find their captain in dangerous positions.
Arteta said: “Expectations for [Aubameyang] are that he has to score a goal every game, so this comes with the nature of the big player he is, what he has done in the past.
“People expect that from him in the future.
“He needs to handle that… we’re here to support him when difficult times come round him.
“He needs to get in more goalscoring opportunities, he needs to get the ball more around the box to do what he’s able to do.
“If you look at our fixtures, we have already played five games out of seven against top, top opposition.”
Aubameyang has scored 72 goals in 115 appearances for the Gunners but had netted just once this season before Thursday night’s 2-1 win in Austria.
Arsenal face Leicester on Sunday night as they bid to get back to winning ways in the Premier League.
The two sides have already played each other in the Carabao Cup this season, and although the Gunners ran out 2-0 winners at the King Power on that occasion, Arteta is anticipating a very different encounter when they meet tomorrow.
Arteta said: “The teams will be different. Formations can change as well, so let’s see what happens.
“We know that it’s going to be a really competitive match against a team that has evolved a lot in the last year or so.
“They had an incredible season last year and it’s always a challenge to play against them. We are expecting a big battle on Sunday.”
Aubameyang keeps on top form with some at home practise
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
