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‘Not a leader’: Arsenal star condemned by pundit who makes unfavourable Gerrard comparison
Saturday saw another low in a season hardly lacking in them for Arsenal, and their captain once again failed to inspire his team-mates.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has not been at his best this season, with nine goals from 24 Premier League matches for Mikel Arteta’s side.
The 3-0 defeat against Liverpool leaves them ninth in the table, and Jermaine Pennant believes the 31-year-old is not a leader.
Pennant was a team-mate of Steven Gerrard at Anfield, and has contrasted Aubameyang’s leadership skills unfavourably with those of the Rangers manager.
The Arsenal striker was left out of last month’s 2-1 win against Tottenham due to disciplinary reasons, Pennant believes he’s not displaying the characteristics you would associate with a successful captain.
Speaking on , he said: “He got the captaincy on his performance in previous seasons, due to scoring a lot of goals, and being a fans’ favourite, and the struggle that Arsenal’s going through.
“I feel that’s why he got given the captaincy band. Not because he’s a leader off the pitch. I don’t think he’s a leader on the pitch.
“Now he’s not scoring, he’s turning up late, he’s getting dropped.
“As a captain you shouldn’t be doing that. I’m going to throw this in – I always throw him in because he led by example – Steven Gerrard.
“You would never see Steven Gerrard come in late. You would never see him getting dropped for any misdemeanours off the field or on the field.
“He led the team. He had the structure of the manager. You look at your manager but you look to Steven Gerrard in the same way.
“I wasn’t scared of Rafa (Benitez), but I was scared of Steven Gerrard.
“Half-time, he’d be the one rallying all the players up. He’ll be on you, pointing fingers.
“That to me is a captain where you look up to him.”
Aubameyang has three goals in five European appearances this season, and he has a chance to add to that tally on Thursday night when Arteta’s men take on Slavia Prague in the last eight of the Europa League.