S
SEARCH
M
SM
Sunday, January 19
/esi/1339/6_A_1_385903_0/index.html?art_id=385903&ESI

Mikel Arteta challenges players to step up in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang absence

:Headline: Mikel Arteta challenges players to step up in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang absence: ID:385903: from db_amp
Mikel Arteta still plans to send Eddie Nketiah back out on loan.
PA | 6d

Mikel Arteta has challenged Arsenal's attacking players to step up in the absence of captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The Gabonese forward received a red card for violent conduct during Saturday's 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

It means Aubameyang, who has 16 goals in all competitions this season, will miss the club's next three games, which includes a trip to Chelsea later this month.

Record signing Nicolas Pepe has found the net five times this term while Alexandre Lacazette has six goals to his name, but not struck for the Gunners since December 12.

Lacazette (left) has struggled for goals of late (Mark Kerton/PA)

"They have to make a step forward now. If he (Aubameyang) is not able to contribute to the team with goals like this, then someone else has to do it and I want to see that reaction too," Arteta said.

"Probably the most important player is missing so it is not nice, but we have other players who can play in that position and we will find a way and be as competitive as possible."

Brazilian youngster Gabriel Martinelli is Arsenal's second top goalscorer this season with a tally of eight, although the majority of them have occurred in cup competitions.

It was put to Arteta that one possible solution could be to hand Eddie Nketiah a chance up top after he returned early from his loan spell at Leeds.

“If he (Aubameyang) is not able to contribute to the team with goals like this, then someone else has to do it and I want to see that reaction too”
- Mikel Arteta

He insisted: "At the moment we have to think mid-to-long term with Eddie. We have to respect his evolution and development and we don't have to make a decision just based on two or three games."

While it will take time for Arteta's methods to completely get over to his players, they have markedly improved since the latter days of Unai Emery's tenure and Freddie Ljungberg's brief caretaker spell in charge.

A big feature is an increase in Arsenal committing tactical fouls, although that slightly tipped over the edge at Selhurst Park with the visitors making 22 – the most they have made in their five matches under the Spaniard.

Mikel Arteta is pleased with the improvement in Arsenal's defensive work rate (Tess Derry/PA)

"I ask them to go 100mph to chase the ball and to be very aggressive when we don't have it and to win it as quick as possible and they try to do that," Arteta explained.

"We need to know there are certain areas where we can do that and others against this type of team where it can be dangerous because they bring the two centre-backs up and put the ball into the box and you have to defend.

"It is a consequence and sequence of many things that happen afterwards and we need to know how to play these situations a little bit better. In terms of the effort and the spirit they show, it was top."

amp_article_385903 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2020-01-12 23:05:06:
html db last update - 2020-01-19 13:34:54 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Mikel Arteta

Click here for more stories about Arsenal

Share this article now:
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool22211051143764
2Manchester CityMan City23153564273748
3Leicester CityLeicester23143648232545
4Chelsea2312383930939
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd2397736261034
6Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2381053430434
7Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd238962522333
8Tottenham HotspurSpurs238783631531
9Crystal Palace237972226-430
10Arsenal2361163032-229
11Everton2385102633-729
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2385102234-1229
13Southampton2384112942-1328
14Burnley2383122638-1227
15Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2367102631-525
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham2265112634-823
17Watford2358102034-1423
18Aston Villa2364132944-1522
19Bournemouth2355132036-1620
20Norwich CityNorwich2345142345-2217
Scroll for more - Tap for full version

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
UC
Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool22211051143764
2Manchester CityMan City23153564273748
3Leicester CityLeicester23143648232545
4Chelsea2312383930939
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd2397736261034
6Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2381053430434
7Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd238962522333
8Tottenham HotspurSpurs238783631531
9Crystal Palace237972226-430
10Arsenal2361163032-229
11Everton2385102633-729
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2385102234-1229
13Southampton2384112942-1328
14Burnley2383122638-1227
15Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2367102631-525
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham2265112634-823
17Watford2358102034-1423
18Aston Villa2364132944-1522
19Bournemouth2355132036-1620
20Norwich CityNorwich2345142345-2217
Scroll for more - Tap for full version
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
X

We value your privacy

A part of our GDPR compliance we need to ask for your consent. We and our partners use technology such as cookies on Sports Mole to personalise content and ads, provide social media features, and analyse our traffic. Click below to consent to the use of this technology on Sports Mole.