Arteta’s Aubameyang gamble works in North London victory – Was it right?

Arsenal took all three points in the final North London derby of the Premier League season and they did it without captain and striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The North London derby saw three goals and a red card, displaying once again, it rarely disappoints us and always supplies us with drama. A final scoreline of 2-1 in Arsenal’s favour at the Emirates has painted North London red again.

A quick recap of the North London derby: Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham

A first-half goal by Erik Lamela in the 33rd minute of the game gave Spurs an unexpected lead and blimey, it was a FANTASTIC rabona goal scored by the Argentinian to go up 0-1 in their biggest rivals’ house.

The Gunners didn’t wait long to answer back. Their attitude demonstrated in the matchup provided the impression they were always going to get back on level terms.

With that being said, Mikel Arteta’s men should have been up by more than one before their neighbours took the lead.

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Arsenal equalised thanks to Martin Odegaard’s deflected effort – and as said previously, Arsenal were always going to shoot their shot and make it count.

This was just before the halftime break, and as we’ve come to witness in the 100s of years of football, to score just before the interval is one of the best times to score in the 90 minutes.

The most controversial moment of the game came when Alexandre Lacazette was awarded a penalty after 60 minutes played. Was it a pen? Was it not? It doesn’t matter anymore as it was given and Lacazette owned the moment with a goal from the spot 12-yards out.

The second moment of controversy was also a moment of madness that saw the early substitute Lamela go from hero to villain – receiving his second yellow of the game and Tottenham were down to 10 men by the 76th minute in the second half.

Game over, three points collected by Arsenal, who are still placed 10th with Spurs ahead of them in seventh.

Arteta’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gamble paid off but was he right?

Arsenal won the important clash and did so without arguably their most valuable player, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. As per the manager and player, it was of his own doing that he missed the starting lineup and 189th North London derby.

The influential forward was “again” late for a meeting. He was left on the bench and eventually was an unused substitution. This was seen as a gamble that was supposed to come back and haunt the Spaniard.

Thankfully, it didn’t and it will undoubtedly prove to be the best decision he has made as a manager. The no-nonsense attitude that is being installed by the boss will be taken a lot more seriously by all in the squad.

Leaving him on the bench sent and sends a message that they must all stay grounded and discipline comes first in the dressing room – regardless of your importance to the team or to the game at the time.

No player will be an exception to Mikel Arteta’s new way of life at the Emirates. So was he right by his Aubameyang omission? Yes, he was!

Mikel Arteta angered only a few FPL managers

Premier League lovers and Fantasy Premier League managers were not so outraged by his decision to leave out the African with only as few as 9.3% of FPL managers owning the player.

The Gabonese has only picked up his form of late – finding the back of the net as little as nine times this campaign.

He scored in his previous EPL outing which was in their draw with Burnley. This was his first goal in his last three games, drawing a blank in seven of his last 10 games.

This displays even more how possible it was for Arteta to leave him out and how it barely had anybody questioning his decision – barring the 9.3% of FPL managers.