Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang should hand the Arsenal captaincy to one of his teammates in a bid to rediscover his best form, Andy Townsend believes.
The 31-year-old striker has scored just one league goal from open play since signing a lucrative contract extension to much fanfare in September.
It has coincided with Arsenal’s dire form which sees them languishing in 15th place in the Premier League after 14 games – only four points above the relegation zone.
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Townsend, who starred for Chelsea and Aston Villa during his playing days, believes the only way Aubameyang should lead is by scoring goals.
He told Tuesday’s talkSPORT Breakfast: “Since they gave him his deal, since he’s become captain, he looks like a different man.
“He got his goal against Southampton; I watched him score that goal and I like to see him in a position where you’ve got a chance to get a goal.
“All this stuff where he’s drifting out wide and he’s crossing balls for others, I don’t get that.
“They tried to find a solution for that recently, but his own performances have been so off the pace that it’s made it difficult for Arteta to continually play him there.
“I’d say, ‘listen, if it’s going to help you, give the armband to someone else if it’s going to get you back to the man that you were’, and then do it.
“The best way Aubameyang can lead is not by trying to clench his fists and going up to players and sticking it in their faces, it’s to put the ball in the back of the net.
“Do what he does naturally. That’s the best way he can lead.”
AFP
In stark contrast to his current woeful form, Aubameyang scored 29 goals in 44 appearances as Arsenal won a 14th FA Cup last season.
Arteta has ruled Aubameyang out of Tuesday’s Carabao Cup quarter-final clash against Man City – which is LIVE on talkSPORT from 8pm – with a calf injury.
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