Arsenal have even managed to make pre-season competition difficult for themselves as they shared the spoils with Rangers in the first-half of this afternoon’s friendly.
One Gunners star in particular struggled massively – captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the striker missed ‘three sitters’ in the opening 45 minutes as Goal’s Arsenal correspondent Charles Watts noted.
The most shocking blunder from the 32-year-old came in the 39th minute of the encounter. Emile Smith Rowe showed why Arsenal should keep him at all costs as the 20-year-old drove from the halfway line.
Smith Rowe danced away from several Rangers players, slaloming into the box where he fired off a low shot that was parried away.
The ball spilled right out to Aubameyang, who was just a couple of yards out, but the superstar had a moment to forget as his side-foot effort was not directed into the corner.
That allowed Rangers youngster Calvin Bassey to slide down and block the effort, it was valiant defending but a player of Aubameyang’s calibre should’ve stuck the ball well out of reach.
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Lovely driving run from Emile Smith Rowe. ? pic.twitter.com/ZTem5mCj3b
— TheAFCnewsroom (@TheAFCnewsroom) July 17, 2021
Pictures from Arsenal.
Superb driving run from Smith Rowe, his shot is saved and Aubameyang somehow fails to score the rebound. He’s having a absolute shocker in front of goal. Three sitters missed. He was far too casual then.
— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) July 17, 2021
Aubameyang should genuinely be on a hattrick already. Hopefully he’s saving his shooting boots for the Premier League.
— Patrick Timmons (@PatrickTimmons1) July 17, 2021
This certainly isn’t a promising display from Aubameyang after what was a difficult season, fans will be hoping that the captain can get his finishing back up to scratch before the new campaign starts.