I actually think Aubameyang's effort levels had dropped in his last 3 or 4 games. Although, his work rate has been good this season generally, I do feel like he will always lack the needed intent and aggression for a so-called pressing team. There is a world of difference in how Martinelli hunts the ball and the way Aubameyang puts himself about, for example.
After the dropping at Goodison and then the Nketiah sub, I suspected Arteta must have been very unhappy with Aubameyang's effort in training in recent times. Confirmed, for me, by Arteta's comments re Nketiah's excellent effort and professionalism in training.
I also think the situation with Pépé is very similar. A guy on one of the big Arsenal podcasts actually predicted that Pépè was gonna be sat for a while straight after the Palace game. He was there and said Pépé was turning his back on play, completely uninterested numerous times, and not pressing or tracking runners. He could see Arteta was apoplectic on the sidelines, and himself felt that Pépé had a crossed a line.
I wouldn't mention this if I didn't see something similar at times myself. Pépé and Aubameyang strike me as players that Arteta fundamentally doesn't click with - they are both laid back, Auba especially loves a joke, Arteta has made comments galore referencing their effort levels in training, disciplining Auba and dropping him for big games - this is serious stuff.
Whatever you think of Arteta, this is a bad situation. He has two of our best players, two guys that need constant motivation - both the stick and the carrot - to work hard and press and neither are particularly good and effective when they do. The other expensive alternative is Lacazette, who has his own issues with intensity dropping over 90 minutes or when he gets a run of games (it's easy to press hard and aggressively for an hour), which surely calls into question his effort in training?
That's £180m of talent, £700k/week, 100+ international caps worth of senior player in the squad that doesn't fit with the way the manager wants to play, senior players that don't train hard and lead by example, one of which is the captain. Big players and characters in the squad that in many ways contradict the manager's stated philisophy.
I know most of you will lay the blame at Arteta and that's fine. It's all about opinions. But one of the reasons I like Arteta is because of his effort to change this bullshit, as I see it, at the club.
I'm fed up with having lazy and overpaid players, I'm fed up of following a team that isn't serious, these cocky players that can give Southsmpton a pounding and then wilt when the shit hits the fan at Anfield, Old Trafford or fucking Stoke. I've been sick of this for 10 years. This is not an Arteta issue - we have the squad we have, or at least those that are left, because we're not a serious club. We've not been a serious club. Anyone who has signed for us and stayed here has to have question marks over their ambition levels. We've all heard what those that have seen it have had to say the about the atmosphere at the training ground over the past 10 years.
And finally, it's for all of these reasons as to why I think it's shallow analysis to say Arteta has failed simply because he has the talent in the squad to produce higher league finishes. And why I think turning Arsenal around has been a monster job. And why, even if the football has been slow progress, I'm cheering Arteta on and hoping he can go all the way with what he's trying to do.
