‘Aubameyang handles the pressure really well’

Big occasions call for big players - and they don’t get much bigger than Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The Gabon international has 23 goals in all competitions this season, and ahead of our Emirates FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City, Mikel Arteta says the striker has proven time and again that he can be relied on when the team needs him most.

“I think he handles the pressure really well,” our head coach told Arsenal Digital. “It is part of his character that he is so relaxed and confident about himself.

“I think the fact he is able to sustain that level of pressure and still deliver every single year, scoring the amount of goals that he does, tells you everything about how he responds and how he enjoys challenges. I am sure he will be ready on Saturday.”

Aubameyang has featured almost exclusively on the left flank under Arteta - so what does our head coach like about him out there?

“I like him in both positions, but now to have a better balance in the team, to have a goal threat that we need in the squad, I think he adapts a little bit better,” he said.

“But he has played different positions a few times, and he will keep moving from time to time into different areas to cause difficulties to the opponent.”