Chelsea caretaker manager Frank Lampard spoke of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's "sharpness" ahead of handing him a start against Arsenal, only to withdraw the striker at half-time.
Former Arsenal captain Aubameyang was making just his fifth Premier League start for the Blues, and his first since before the World Cup. It was an evening to forget, though, and he managed just nine touches before making way for Kai Havertz at the break.
By that point, the Gunners were three goals to the good, with Martin Odegaard striking twice and Gabriel Jesus putting them further in control. As Havertz emerged for the second period, Lampard's earlier comments felt a world away.
"I think we all know Auba coming in fresh for us in the last few weeks has been - he hasn’t played so much as a number nine which is the main position that you need to have that sharpness in match days," Lampard told Sky Sports before kick-off. "He’s shown a little bit of that against Brentford, and he’s a reference, he’s got a history of scoring goals, may be motivation for him to play here.
"With Noni [Madueke] he’s trained really well, and when you come into a big squad you need players to show something in training, and he’s shown that," the former Everton boss added. Madueke, a January signing from PSV Eindhoven, was making just his third start for the London club.
It was Madueke who brought Chelsea back into the game midway through the second half. The 21-year-old got the blind side of Arsenal left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko and squeezed the ball beyond Aaron Ramsdale.
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Aubameyang's start came at the expense of Joao Felix, who hasn't started since April 12. The on-loan forward's long-term future remains a matter of debate, and Lampard spoke about the Portuguese star before kick-off.
"There’s no doubt he has huge talent," Lampard said. "That is really visible in training daily in those moments showing what he can do around the box.
"I think probably for me coming in I need to find a clear structure and a clear off-the-ball idea for how we work, and that’s the challenge with Joao. I agree, and if you ask him also he’s not definite - he wants to play here but he can also play here - which can be a plus at times but when he’s not definitely a nine, I need what looks like nine, for me, for the way I want to play. Those are the things that Joao needs to show, whether it’s here or wherever his future is, I don’t know that.
"As managers you rely on things you’re gonna get from players, that huge talent is something maybe we did have or didn’t have in different degrees, but he also has to have the work ethic, the team nature about him. I’m not saying he doesn’t have that because he’s played with Simeone - a coach that demands collectiveness - but at the same time finding his way here he has to understand in the short-term what I want, then he can show his talent once he does the other stuff."
