ESPN FC pundit Stewart Robson has criticised Chelsea duo Raheem Sterling and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang‘s performance in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United.
Aubameyang started the game as a lone number nine in a 3-4-2-1 formation against Manchester United, before Graham Potter’s early tactical switch in the first half meant he had to play as a pair with Sterling up front.
Chelsea had a hard time connecting the ball to their forwards, so the two forwards are certainly not solely to blame, but when the rare opportunities came, they failed to convert them into meaningful chances.
Robson believes that Chelsea forwards’ current underwhelming form put pressure on the manager to take more risks in midfield.
“It’s a problem,” the former Arsenal midfield told ESPN FC when asked about Chelsea’s attacking display at the weekend.
“When you see Sterling played for Chelsea [on Saturday], I thought he was really poor.
“He got himself in some good positions, but his final decisions and actual control weren’t particularly good. He wasn’t making the right runs.
“Aubameyang, he’s the player I saw at Arsenal in the last couple of years where he’s not that really effective.
“Potter is a good coach. I think he knows how he wants his side to play.
“But unless he can get somebody to play in that centre-forward position, he’s got to do a lot of tinkering in midfield to create more chances, so at some point, they will score a goal.”
Both Aubameyang and Sterling have had their moments, but it is safe to say they have yet to meet the expectations since arriving at the club this summer.
Sterling has not scored in October, while Aubameyang has only had one Premier League goal so far this term.
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