Jamie Redknapp has claimed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is the only Arsenal player who would get close to being in the Chelsea team.
Writing in the Daily Mail, the high profile pundit and former England international delivered a disparaging verdict of the Gunners team following their 3-2 defeat to their London rivals on Saturday.
Redknapp claimed Arsenal’s players are far inferior to those available to Maurizio Sarri, who has won each of his opening two matches in charge.
“Looking at the Arsenal team, not one of their players would get in Maurizio Sarri’s best XI,” Redknapp wrote in the Mail. “Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is the player who would get closest to this team. He will be a star but when given two big chances on Saturday, he froze.”
OPINION
Redknapp’s verdict is a strong one, and perhaps a little harsh on the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil, although the former did not even making the Gunners’ starting XI at Stamford Bridge. Jorginho and company made Arsenal’s midfield look second rate on Saturday, but they should gradually assert themselves as they get more used to the demands of new boss Unai Emery. As for Aubameyang, he is a superior player to Alvaro Morata and his 75th minute replacement Olivier Giroud, who was sold in January following the Gabon international’s big-money arrival from Borussia Dortmund. His electric pace, movement and clinical eye for goal make Aubameyang a handful for any defence, and the signs from the 16 matches he has played for Arsenal so far are that he can deliver some massive goal numbers. Sure, he wasted some golden opportunities against Chelsea, but the striker’s track record suggests he will rip it up over the course of the campaign.