Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink alleges Mikel Arteta made a grave mistake in getting rid of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in January by questioning him arsenal Boss ‘No Nonsense Policy’.
The Spaniard had one public dispute with the Gabonese international when he was stripped of club captaincy and banned from the first team before eventually joining Barcelona with the termination of his contract.
Arsenal were unable to bring a replacement as Dusan Vlahovic turned the Gunners down in favor of a move Juventus, Leaving Arteta with just two recognized No.9s in Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah who are both without a contract in the summer.
The north Londoners initially coped well without Aubameyang as they emerged as favorites to finish in the top four amid brilliant form. But after one Three game losing streak positive for Covid with Lacazette test it seems Arsenal suffer from a lack of depth at the top of the square.Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang outshone Arsenal flop who felt ‘cheated’ by Arsène Wenger.Paul Merson points to Arsenal’s problem stopping top-four charge in honest comparison
And Hasselbaink believes it was a huge mistake for the Gunners to part with their talisman – which flew off the blocks at Barca – suggesting Arteta could offer an alternative solution to the striker’s problems off the field should have found.
He said on Sky Sports ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Chelsea: “I think they should have kept him, especially when they don’t have anyone to replace him.
“He may have caused trouble on and off the pitch, but he’s the club’s most expensive player and he was the club’s captain, but he’s scored a lot of goals and he’s proved that since he joined Barcelona. And that. ” is what Arsenal needs, a goalscorer.”
Jamie Redknapp reckons Arsenal have been rocked by their defeat crystal palace with the injured Thomas Partey a bitter failure for the Emirates club.
He said: “I think what really upset the balance of the team was that loss to Crystal Palace, it really shocked the team. They’ve lost a few players to injuries in Thomas Partey, but I also think Spurs are breathing down their necks now and trying to make it difficult for them to give the north London derby more meaning in a few weeks’ time.”
Paul Merson reckons there would always be a setback for Arsenal as they played to their ‘ceiling’ during their good form.
He said: “They played to their limits. Their players have been playing to their highest potential, but that seems to have waned a bit. You are not Manchester City or Liverpool If you can win games at 80%, you have to be at 100% to win, and that hasn’t been the case in recent games.
“The hardest thing in football is to score goals. And some of Arsenal’s have been bad misses, but they’ve missed some excellent chances in the last three or four games. Again, they’re pushing their limits and those chances have been closed End.” when they did their best, but it waned a bit.”
Source: Mirror