Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's Arsenal debut hanging in balance due to sickness bug, admits Arsene Wenger
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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could miss his Arsenal debut because of illness.
Arsenal’s new £56million record signing has had a fever this week and Arsene Wenger admitted he may not be fit enough to start against Everton.
That will give Alexandre Lacazette a reprieve up front as he looks set to lead the line but Wenger refused to give the France striker any assurances after Aubameyang’s arrival.
Lacazette was Arsenal’s record signing last summer for £52m but now finds his place under threat following Aubameyang’s move from Borussia Dortmund.
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Gunners boss Wenger, who confirmed Henrikh Mkhitaryan will start against Everton, said: “Aubameyang was sick as well so we have to assess him today.
“Certainly Mkhitaryan will start. That’s a possibility, yes. Aubameyang, I have to assess how he is physically today and how well he feels.
“He had sickness, a fever. He couldn’t train a lot, he started yesterday. He was still not completely well so I have to assess and see with the medical department how well and how fit he can be.
“I don’t reassure people because I think we are in a competitive world. We have all chosen a job that is about competition and you have to fight for your place.
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(Image: 2018 Getty Images)
“You have to show them respect, and that you rate the players but as well they have to accept that we live in a competitive world.
“We can play two up [top], or one [up]. On the other hand you forget that we lose three strikers: Walcott, Sanchez and Giroud. So you should be in a position where you can understand why I brought at least one in.
“It suggests you need at least two top strikers in the Premier League, because if one is injured then you have a problem.”
(Image: Stu Forster)
Wenger also claimed Mesut Ozil signing a new deal - his £350,000-a-week three year contract - is a massive boost for the club and their prospects this season.
“It is, because many predicted that he will not commit and not sign for us,” said Wenger. “Overall it’s good news for us.
“When you look at the transfer market today, the fact that you can keep a player of that calibre is of course good news. The fact that he committed for a longer period shows as well that he will have to do that as well on the pitch and lead the team.”
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Wenger admitted they did try to get a defender across the line late in the window with West Brom’s Jonny Evans their No1 target.
But Arsenal never got close to doing a deal on deadline day and Wenger admits they will have to solve their defensive problems themselves.
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Wenger added: “I already talked about that and I believe we have to find an internal solution to our defensive problems, and that means everyone putting more effort in. But overall I am happy with the way things went in the transfer market.
“It is not a lack of effort, it is a lack of focus in vital moments of the game. Sometimes we do it well, and sometimes not.
“For example, at Swansea we had 75 per cent possession and you always think to attack, attack and you forget to defend when you lose the ball because you are so obsessed with wanting to win the game.
“It is always difficult to find the balance when you have so much of the ball. The league is divided in two now, 25-30 per cent possession and 70 per cent possession, there are two kinds of leagues - it is a 70:30 league now. The 70 per cent [teams] do not always win, they lose many games against the 30 [teams].”
Wenger has a doubt over Jack Wilshere because if illness but is hopeful he will be fit to face Everton.