Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have emerged as a lethal attacking duo during their time at Arsenal, and Unai Emery reveals what he did to improve them.
Lacazette and Aubameyang have scored 37 goals between them this season across all competitions.
Arsenal have been an improved side after the duo’s impressive performances this season. The Gunners are currently fourth in the league table, and are in contention for a top-4 position alongside Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester United.
Unai Emery has been credited for improving the Arsenal side vastly, as he led a mini club overhaul himself when he arrived in the summer. The Arsenal head coach has now revealed what he did to improve Lacazette and Aubameyang, as Arsenal faces an uphill task in the business end of the season.
Unai Emery on Lacazette and Aubameyang:
The Arsenal head coach stated that various strikers have improved under him in the past.
Unai Emery has worked with forwards like Kylian Mbappe, Edinson Cavani and David Villa, among others during his time in France and Spain.
The Spanish manager revealed that he is demanding from his strikers, and expects a lot from Lacazette and Aubameyang as well.
“Every striker has developed with me in the past,” Emery began.
“I am very happy now, but I am very, very demanding of them to continue creating chances, and also scoring them. Individual scoring targets are what’s best for the team. I did that in the past and in the present with them.
“In training I say to them, ‘When I have one ball, in training, I imagine you’ll score one goal, every time. Score, score, score’. That’s my mentality – I push them with this mentality. That’s the best development for them and for the team.”
While Emery has used Aubameyang as a penalty-box striker in the last few games, Lacazette has shown that he can often drop into the midfield to retrieve position and work with his fellow partner to create goalscoring opportunities.
How Twitter reacted..
Arsenal manager Unai Emery believes Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette are among the best strikers he has worked with: https://t.co/LH3dlDYr9r pic.twitter.com/dbKIbIWkDY
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 7, 2019
01/04/18: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gives the struggling Alexandre Lacazette a penalty against Stoke City to boost his confidence.
10/03/19: Alexandre Lacazette gives the struggling Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang a penalty against Man United to boost his confidence.
Our strikers. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/s4r5oUeGny
— afcstuff (@afcstuff) April 1, 2019
Emery hails Auba and Laca:
“Aubameyang and Lacazette, I am very happy with them. They are scoring, they are playing both (roles). In training, I said to them, When I have one ball, I imagine you’ll score one goal, every time. Score, score, score.”#afc pic.twitter.com/g2EjS3YL5C
— LTArsenal™️ (@ltarsenal) April 7, 2019
What next?
Arsenal return to action later tonight as the side takes on Everton in the Premier League.
