According to ESPN, Inter Milan have identified Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as one of their potential targets in the summer. The Arsenal forward is being considered as a replacement for Lautaro Martinez, who could reportedly move to FC Barcelona after the end of the season.
It is no secret that Arsenal have failed to keep Aubameyang happy at the Emirates, as far as finding success is concerned. And in this article, we will discuss how the potential summer departure of this star striker could affect the offensive unit of Mikel Arteta next season.
Is Alexandre Lacazette a reliable man up top?
Aubameyang’s departure would once again make Alexandre Lacazette the focal point of the Arsenal attack. This, of course, could change if the club manages to sign another centre forward. But, that is unlikely as Arteta has other issues he needs to address, especially in the defensive department.
Hence, we could indeed see Lacazette spearheading the Arsenal attack next season in the event of Aubameyang’s departure. But quite ironically, he has been leading the charge for the north London giants this season as well.
Indeed, Arteta has primarily used Aubameyang in a wide-role, allowing the Frenchman to operate as a number nine. His willingness to track back, combined with his physical presence, are ideally suited to Arsenal’s style of play under the former Manchester City assistant coach.
While Lacazette may not be as lethal as Aubameyang in finishing, his work-rate in the final third makes him a tactically compatible centre-forward for the Gunners. That being said, the club should at least sign an alternative to avoid facing Tottenhamesque scenario.
What’s next for Gabriel Martinelli?
Aubameyang’s departure from Emirates Stadium could serve as a significant boost for Gabriel Martinelli. The Brazilian has been one of the rising stars for Arsenal this season, having scored ten goals in all competitions.
However, the presence of Aubameyang at left-wing has prevented him from earning a more prominent role in the first-team. Against Olympiacos, Arteta tried to accomodate the youngster into the starting lineup by deploying Auba on the opposite flank.
But, it did not work out as the Gabonese international struggled to make his mark on the proceedings. It wasn’t until he switched to his preferred left flank, that he managed to make a difference, notably providing an excellent pass to Bukayo Saka, who assisted Lacazette for the winner. With Aubameyang gone, however, Martinelli will certainly become Arsenal’s primary option at left-wing.
Will Arsenal’s attitude in the market change?
Even though Aubameyang is likely to generate a potential bidding war in the summer, Arsenal could find it challenging to attract top-class individuals if they miss out on Champions League next season.
That means the Gunners will have to make do with their current crop of individuals. They could, however, look to offload Mesut Ozil and free up a lot of wage budget, which will ultimately allow them to spend big in the summer. Nonetheless, Arsenal’s focus should purely remain on bolstering their defensive unit and perhaps signing a new winger to compete with Nicolas Pepe and Reiss Nelson.
