Mikel Arteta’s biggest challenge at Arsenal could be making Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and Mesut Ozil work as an attacking trio, reckons Tony Cascarino.
The Gunners have shown promising signs under Arteta despite taking just a point from two games and were unlucky to lose against Chelsea on Sunday as errors cost them.
Cascarino believes Arsenal already look a better unit under their former captain – in his first managerial role – than they did under predeccessor Unai Emery.
However, the former Premier League striker turned expert pundit, is not convinced Aubameyang, Lacazette and Ozil can be a success together going forward.
wrote in The Times: “Mikel Arteta can still take plenty of positives from his team’s performance. Their workrate has improved considerably in the two games since he took over.
“Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang looked far hungrier. I have criticised him in recent weeks for his poor attitude but he and Reiss Nelson were tireless in their running down each wing. Bukayo Saka, an 18-year-old winger, excelled at left back and Ainsley Maitland-Niles on the right proved he can fit into this system.
“The challenge for Arteta is to get Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and Mesut Ozil working as a well-oiled attacking unit. I am yet to be convinced that the three players can work together.
“When Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney were terrorising defences for Manchester United at the start of this decade, it was not just their talent that made them a lethal attacking force.
“They did not stop running and, out of possession, made sure they were United’s first line of defence.
“The Arsenal front three could do worse than watch videos of that formidable trio. Arteta has upped the players’ work-ethic – now they need to play this way consistently.”
Arsenal’s next match comes against Manchester United at the Emirates on New Year’s Day, which is live on talkSPORT.
The festive feast of football continues over the next week – find out what is LIVE across the talkSPORT network, below…
Click Here: liverpool mens jersey