Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could benefit by being left on the Arsenal bench says Lee Dixon
Lee Dixon has insisted Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang should remain on the Arsenal bench for their upcoming games.
The 31-year-old was only fit enough for the bench in the Gunners’ 3-1 victory over rivals Chelsea on Boxing Day, due to a calf injury.
Aubameyang has struggled this season since signing a new three-year extension back in September, scoring just three goals in 13 Premier League appearances.
Arsenal’s youngsters impressed as they took their first win in eight games against Chelsea
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who was left on the bench has struggled so far this campaign
And Dixon who spent 14 seasons with the Gunners winning four league titles, believes leaving Aubameyang on the sidelines could help the striker rediscover his form going forward.
He told talkSport: ‘Nobody is bigger than the club and maybe Mikel Arteta might look at this game at the weekend and say, “we did create some chances, we did this”.
‘It might just do him (Aubameyang) a bit of good to have a little step out of the team and just look from the sidelines.
‘When you watch a game from the sidelines you can sometimes learn more than you do when you’re on the pitch.
‘He’s obviously a hugely talented footballer and we need his goals, but it might be a time for him just to look and assess the team.’
After their victory over Chelsea, Arsenal sit 15th in the Premier League with 17 points after 15 games.
Arteta takes his side to face 16th place Brighton on Tuesday night, and the Spaniard will hope his side can get revenge for their 2-1 defeat the Amex Stadium back in June.
Ex-Gunner Lee Dixon says a spell on the sidelines might benefit Aubameyang in the long run
Arsenal then travel to face relegation-struggling West Brom on Saturday.
Dixon added: ‘If they win their next two games and he doesn’t play then he could come back firing. That rest might do him good.’
It is unsure whether Aubameyang will be ready to start Tuesday’s game against Brighton, and Arteta could decide to stick with his youngsters who impressed against Chelsea.
Striker Gabrielle Martinelli as well as Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and Joe Willock were all at the forefront of Arsenal’s improvement on Boxing Day.
Before this, Arsenal had not won in their previous eight league games putting huge pressure on Arteta’s side to deliver.
