Mikel Arteta responds to complaints from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s brother
Mikel Arteta insists Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is happy with Arsenal role after complaints from striker’s brother
Mikel Arteta believes Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is happy with his role at Arsenal after the striker’s brother complained about the forward being played as a left winger.
Earlier this week, Willy Aubameyang criticised Arteta during an Instagram live video over his decision to not give his brotherthe No.9 role in Arsenal’s attack. Aubameyang played on the left flank once again on Tuesday evening and scored the opening goal as Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw by Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium.
And although Arteta admits he is open to playing Aubameyang through the middle following Eddie Nketiah’s red card, he believes the 31-year-old gives balance to Arsenal by playing on the left.
‘Yeah, he’s played there [through the middle] tonight unfortunately with 10 men, it’s a completely different game,’ Arteta said after Arsenal’s draw with Leicester. ‘We will look at the options that we have up front and how we can be a little bit diverse and have different options.
‘But obviously we will wait to see the suspension with Eddie and how long it is, and we will adapt.’ Asked if playing on the left could affect Aubameyang’s chances of winning the Golden Boot this season, Arteta replied: ‘I don’t know, we need to put as much firepower in the team as possible without losing our balance.
‘He’s always scored a lot of goals from that position, he’s done it all his career as well. We know he can play as a No.9, but at the moment the balance of the team is better like this.’
Asked if feels Aubameyang is happy to play anywhere because of their relationship, Arteta replied: ‘I don’t think it’s about the relationship, it’s about the type of player he is. ‘He is a team player. And you can ask him to play anywhere and he’s happy to take it. ‘Obviously he would prefer to play somewhere all the time, but he’s happy and you see the effort he puts in every game.’
Metro
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