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Mon 05 April 2021 | 16:12

Keown: Martinelli should replace Aubameyang in Arsenal’s lineup

The former Gunners defender believes the Gabonese striker must be dropped from the team’s lineup due to his recent performances.

Arsenal

were defeated 3-0 in their league clash against

Liverpool

on Saturday.

Mikel Arteta

’s team displayed another uninspiring performance as their lack of firepower continued to be evident throughout the match. Speaking about the game with

Daily mail

,

Martin Keown

says Arteta must punish

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

by dropping him from the team’s lineup.

“Arteta has a big decision to make on his captain. He set an example by dropping Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for the north London derby recently. Aubameyang was supposed to start against Spurs but turned up late and was pulled.

“Should Arteta not be dropping him for performing as poorly as he did against Liverpool? If he sticks with him, he risks losing the respect of the group.

“It’s time to bring in 19-year-old Gabriel Martinelli. He is too good to be sitting on the bench. His team-mates see him in training and know what he can do. They will be baffled by his continued absence. I know I am.”

Gabriel Martinelli

has appeared in 11 matches for Arsenal this season, including 7 games in the Premier League.

“Use him on the left. Use Martinelli’s fellow 19-year-old Bukayo Saka on the right. Start Emile Smith Rowe. Then you’ll have a team who can pose problems for the opposition. There were too many passengers against Liverpool.

“They had Aubameyang on the left, Alexandre Lacazette central and Nicolas Pepe on the right - three club-record signings - but they missed the energy and drive of Smith Rowe and Saka.

“There is no time for Arsenal’s players to feel sorry for themselves. They need to bounce back against a Prague side who have knocked Leicester and Rangers out of the Europa League.

“Arteta has big decisions to make - ones he needs to get right.”

Arsenal will face

Slavia Prague

in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie on Thursday.


source: SportMob



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