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'I felt sorry for Aubameyang because of THIS Liverpool player' - BBC Sport pundit
ARSENAL striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has the sympathy of BBC Sport pundit Garth Crooks after coming up short against Virgil van Dijk.
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Arsenal were thrashed 5-1 by Liverpool last Saturday as the league leaders ran riot at Anfield.
Ainsley-Maitland Niles gave Unai Emery’s side the lead only for a Roberto Firmino hat-trick and goals from Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah to down the Gunners.
Although the league’s joint top goalscorer with 12 strikes, Aubameyang struggled to make an impact on the game.
The Gabon forward managed only 14 touches throughout the whole game, six of which came from kick-offs.
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I actually felt sorry for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
And former Tottenham Hotspur striker Crooks has revealed he feels sorry for Aubameyang because he came up against such a formidable opponent in Liverpool centre-back Van Dijk.
The Dutchman has emerged as Jurgen Klopp’s rock in defence, and marshalled his backline terrifically against Arsenal’s tricky forwards.
Speaking of the centre-back to BBC Sport, Crooks said: “He just seems to stroll through games at the moment.
“This time it was against Arsenal. I actually felt sorry for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
“Is anyone really suggesting that if they had played with Aubameyang and substitute Alexandre Lacazette up front together Arsenal could have done any worse? I don't think so.”
The loss means Arsenal have taken just four points from the last 12 on offer and they are now five points adrift of fourth-place Chelsea.
Crooks went on to query whether Emery is struggling in matches against Big Six opponents, with Arsenal claiming five points from a possible 18 against their rivals so far this season.
“Is Unai Emery losing his nerve against the big teams?” Crooks queried, without offering further analysis.
With Manchester United now on their tails - three points behind - Arsenal face Fulham at the Emirates today.