Lets not forget Auba scored 4 in the last Europa semi we appeared in, and also scored 4 in the FA Cup semi and final last season.
And although Laca scored 3 in that Europa semi as well, remember he had a horror show against Atletico the year before, ultimately costing us a final.

Way too early to write off Auba, he is a big game player and could be key to our chances of glory.

Let's not forget we shouldve scored 4 or 5 last night. Laca has a decent skillset but nowhere near good enough to justify leaving out auba, even if he has been inconsistent this season.

comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 4 minutes ago
Lets not forget Auba scored 4 in the last Europa semi we appeared in, and also scored 4 in the FA Cup semi and final last season.
And although Laca scored 3 in that Europa semi as well, remember he had a horror show against Atletico the year before, ultimately costing us a final.

Way too early to write off Auba, he is a big game player and could be key to our chances of glory.
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I'm not writing him off, I still think he has the ability to win us a game. But lets be honest, its not been happening for him this season, how many more chances can we afford him through the middle with the chances he's been missing, Benfica and Olympiacos weren't able to punish us but another team will if that continues.

Bottomline is Auba is supposed to be our lethal weapon, if he's not currently lethal then there's little to justify him starting over Laca through the middle who outshines him in every other department.

comment by Tu Meke - AinsleyForRightBack (U3732)
posted 21 minutes ago
Let's not forget we shouldve scored 4 or 5 last night. Laca has a decent skillset but nowhere near good enough to justify leaving out auba, even if he has been inconsistent this season.
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Not sure if you're trying to prove my point or argue against it. You're saying us missing a hatful of chances with Auba as striker last night justifies him starting over Laca?

No I'm saying your point that laca helps us keep more pressure on the opposition is rubbish, as we still should have scored 4 or 5 last night.

comment by Tu Meke - AinsleyForRightBack (U3732)
posted 1 minute ago
No I'm saying your point that laca helps us keep more pressure on the opposition is rubbish, as we still should have scored 4 or 5 last night.


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Yes we should have scored 4 or 5 just like we should have put 4 or 5 past Benfica but we didn't and guess who missed the best chances? Yep you guessed it, the lethal Auba. Looks like you're making a solid case for saying Auba has been really bad then... this justifies him starting over Laca for you? strange

So what's your point then? That laca is more clinical? Because he's just as bad, but doesn't get as many chances.

comment by Tu Meke - AinsleyForRightBack (U3732)
posted 10 minutes ago
So what's your point then? That laca is more clinical? Because he's just as bad, but doesn't get as many chances.
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I made the distinction between them in the article. Laca if he's not scoring still contributes to the game, brings the best out of the players around him, sets up chances for others with his link play and passing. Auba if he is not scoring offers nothing else.

ESR, Odegaard and Saka are creative enough. Laca as I said has a decent skillset, but is pretty useless most of the time. the upside with auba (goals) is just too useful to leave him out for someone who isn't very good.

I hear you, auba has not been clinical at all this season, but he is still out best hope. His goals got us the fa cup last year.

How many times this season should we have been a few up but then go behind or get pegged back to 1-1?

Do some fans still think Auba should play centrally?

Seriously, Laca is a better fit centrally with the way Arteta wants us to play.

I guess you can play Auba out wide but again with the way Arteta wants us to play, high press, ball retentionsl, there are better options than Auba out wide.

I think I would keep him out wide for Europa. Yes him an Laca are not the best combo but we need goal scorers on the pitch

One things is for sure, we can't go into the next season with either as our central striker

comment by Tu Meke - AinsleyForRightBack (U3732)
posted 5 minutes ago
ESR, Odegaard and Saka are creative enough. Laca as I said has a decent skillset, but is pretty useless most of the time. the upside with auba (goals) is just too useful to leave him out for someone who isn't very good.

I hear you, auba has not been clinical at all this season, but he is still out best hope. His goals got us the fa cup last year.
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Not saying ESR and co aren't creative in their own right but its pretty obvious they play much better with Laca up front, infact their best performances this season have come when paired with Laca. So again if anything there's still a stronger case for Laca starting through the middle than Auba if he isn't scoring

Him scoring goals to win the FA Cup last season has no relevance to this season. if he's going to continue missing gilt edge chances to kill off teams, better teams will punish us and knock us out of the cup, simple as that.

Leicester, Chelsea and spurs have been some of our better performances this season, all without Auba.

Laca isn't ideal though, not clinical enough but on the whole a better option centrally than Auba

comment by Castor Troy (U8700)
posted 4 minutes ago
Leicester, Chelsea and spurs have been some of our better performances this season, all without Auba.

Laca isn't ideal though, not clinical enough but on the whole a better option centrally than Auba
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Yes I agree Laca isn't ideal either, but at least with him in the middle it feels like we have 11 men while at times with Auba if he isnt scoring, feels like we have 10 men, because he simply cannot hold the ball to relieve any pressure.

Two ties in a row now we've struggled to see off Benfica & Olympicaos and had to survive scares because Auba failed to finish them off. Third time might not be so lucky.

Anybody who doesn't see the drop off in Auba's ability this season is deluding themselves. Unfortunately, age seems to have already caught up with him.

I mean Auba did start in the game which won us the tie...

comment by Girøulski Alt-0216 forever (U14971)
posted 39 seconds ago
Anybody who doesn't see the drop off in Auba's ability this season is deluding themselves. Unfortunately, age seems to have already caught up with him.
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Is Lacazette going to offer more though? I'm really not sure

comment by The Logical One™ (destroying impersonators since 2020 😅) (U20872)
posted 2 hours, 6 minutes ago
comment by Castor Troy (U8700)
posted 4 minutes ago
Leicester, Chelsea and spurs have been some of our better performances this season, all without Auba.

Laca isn't ideal though, not clinical enough but on the whole a better option centrally than Auba
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Yes I agree Laca isn't ideal either, but at least with him in the middle it feels like we have 11 men while at times with Auba if he isnt scoring, feels like we have 10 men, because he simply cannot hold the ball to relieve any pressure.

Two ties in a row now we've struggled to see off Benfica & Olympicaos and had to survive scares because Auba failed to finish them off. Third time might not be so lucky.
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We just need Laca to start scoring now. I agree, if Auba isnt scoring, you are practically a player short as he offers virtually nothing else.

Just hope Auba finds some form before the Europa games but the drop of in general play is very very alarming

Auba needs more consistency. I saw some good half recently but then he faded when games not going in our way he tend to disappear completely.