Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could be heading for the exit doors at the Emirates this summer and according to Charlie Nicholas, Arteta already might have the players who can fill up his boots.
Aubameyang is about to enter the final year of his contract and right now the Gabon international is reluctant to put pen on paper to a deal which the club have offered to him.
But writing for Sporting Life, Nicholas has claimed that the Gunners do have a pool of talent who are capable enough to replace the forward and it could be worth taking the risk.
He wrote: “Eddie Nketiah runs off the ball into space, and is a very good finisher. Martinelli does have the potential too. The signs with him are pretty similar.
“He is young, but that does not matter. If people look at how he finishes, you can see a cool and clinical aspect. Jurgen Klopp was raving about him for a reason. He is ruthless. The potential is there, but will not reach Aubameyang’s level yet.
“Nicolas Pepe has not done a lot yet and has certainly not delivered. Nketiah is a finisher but he is not at that level. He is more a number nine that needs to learn the trade and is still way behind Alexandre Lacazette.
“There is potential to replace, but Arsenal will still be an attack-minded side once they rebuild and become more well-drilled and organised. I could accept if they get good money for him, as I am not convinced he will sign, and Arsenal can then rebuild in the process.
“If they get an offer of around £60m-£80m, and accept that they need to rebuild the defence, then I would buy into that.
“But Arsenal have failed abysmally when there has only been a year left of a player’s contract. It would only be acceptable if it was a case of selling him for the reinvestment of the team.”
Can Aubameyang be replaced by Nketiah & Martinelli?
Both these youngsters have received a lot of praise during the ongoing season but there’s no way the manager will risk relying on these players next campaign.
Aubameyang is the star of the show at the Emirates and in case he leaves, Arteta will have to bring in someone who can score 30 odd goals in one season single-handedly or else his team will have to remain in the Europa League for a number of years to come.
Lacazette is the man who has the capability of replacing his strike partner but if the recent rumours are to be believed then the Gunners boss is planning to sell him off during the summer transfer window. So that’s that.
And as far as Nicolas Pepe is concerned, the player has been a major flop so far this season so relying on him to score goals will be liking walking blindfolded amidst a firing squad and hoping that you get past unharmed.
