Martin Keown: Starting On The Bench May Have Led To Aubameyang’s Penalty Miss

By The Editor
on 2nd March 2019

Martin Keown wasn’t filled with confidence when Aubameyang stepped up to win the game…

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Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown believes that starting the game on the bench may have affected Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after the forward missed a 90th-minute penalty in our 1-1 draw against Spurs, BT Sport reports.

Aubameyang came on for Alexandre Lacazette 20 minutes from time and after a subdued performance, he was felled by Davinson Sanchez and Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot.

It felt as though the referee was trying to even matters after giving Spurs a cheap spot-kick which Harry Kane converted. Nevertheless, Aubameyang had the opportunity to hand us all three points and move us within a point of our arch rivals but the Gabon star fluffed his lines.

The penalty was a very tame effort and Hugo Lloris dived to his right which is where Aubameyang put his penalty the last time the two faced each other.

Keown stated that he never felt confident watching on as the 29-year-old stepped up, and he feels that starting the game as a substitute may have affected the forward.

“I never really felt confident with Aubameyang,” Keown said.

“You know, he didn’t start the game and I don’t know whether that in any way affected his confidence. He just didn’t have any conviction and Lloris makes the save.

“Vertonghen’s follow-up, the clearance, he’s (Aubameyang) got the goal gaping in front of him and he can’t believe he didn’t finish it.”

After a dogged display from the team throughout the 90-minutes, failing to win the game in that manner feels like another derby defeat.

Our two central defenders Sokratis and Laurent Koscielny were sensational at the back and made Kane look like a schoolboy at times.

For once, though, we were badly let down by both of our star strikers.